There are only a handful of poets that I await new volumes to see where they have been, what have they been doing since their last volume. William Corbett is at the top of that list. His poetry is as rhythmically close to music as words are allowed to get. Corbett has slowly, carefully created a world. This is ordinary life turned into art at its highest most articulate pitch. This fine new book has been worth the wait.

"By Heart" is a masterpiece. The book is a tale of Vermont life in the midsts of small town, workmans life. Being a poetry book it combines empathy, happiness, and dedication. Bob Arnold knows what he is doing when he sits down a writes. A true man to his writing.

If you are looking for a children's book about the Revolutionary War or Vermont history, you have come to the right place. The book is about the little-know but important Battle of Hubbardton, in Hubbardton, Vermont. It is the story of Josiah, a Vermont farm boy, who discovers a wounded German drummer boy his own age. The book is a fast-read with a lot of action, but also shows various facets of war. This book would be good for grades 4-8, depending on the child's reading level, and would be a great book for a teacher doing a unit on the Revolutionary War.

Smith writes an engrossing tale about how Doane Robinson decided it would be a good idea to have sculptures created in the Needles of the Black Hills to bring in tourists, and how eccentric carver Gutzon Borglum took his idea over. It is amazing that Mount Rushmore ever was carved, with everyone being most concerned about getting it done their way, and no one paying enough attention to whether or not there was enough money to get it done.

This is a very readable and extensively researched look at the trees of Washington D.C. It's an excellent field guide for identifying trees, but the thing I like most about it is that it tells the fascinating stories behind so many of the trees planted in D.C. If you live near D.C. and have even a mild interest in its history, I strongly recommend this book!

...the more food stains on the outside of the book, the more times you can be sure it has been used. I have a collection of over 600 cookbooks, all of which I use on a regular basis, but the Country InnKeepers' Cookbook is far and away the most ingredient-spattered book on my shelves. I highly recommend Fudge Meltaways, the Shrimp and Crabmeat Cassrole, Sherried Chicken Breasts, the Tomato Soup, Maple Syrup Sundae Sauce...oh, just buy the book and try them all!

Deane C. Davis was my step grandfather. I spent many summers on his Morgan Horse ranch in Montpelier Vermont during my youth. What was most special about our relationship was the fact that I always felt like I was his closest and best friend. He treated me with unconditional love and respect. What is fascinating is that if you speak to anyone who knew him, they felt the same way. He and I spent many hours riding his Morgans in the hills and back roads surrounding his property. It was during those intimate rides that I was able to ask him anything that was on my mind. We discussed the past, family situations, politics etc. He once told me that he always felt like a senior in highschool, because the world was always filled with excitement and adventure. Nancy Graff does an excellent portrayal of my step grandfather. I know she spent hundreds of hours interviewing him before he died in December of 1990. And I know she like so many others had the same love and respect as I did.

The Green Mountain Club's "Long Trail Guide" is your bible to the stars. The guide breaks the roughly 275 mile trail from Canada to the Massachusetts border into 12 divisions. A summary section covers each division with topo maps opposite a page of trail intermediary shelters, mountains, gaps, elevations and distances from point to point. Public Campgrounds near the Long Trail is given in another section. The beginning gives descriptions of each section, shelter capacity, etc. I have been hiking sections broken into eight day segments along with six other guys. At first I did not have a guide and counted on our leader who did have one. The problem is that we all hike at different rates and I was not aware of some interesting side trails. The guide covers all the side trails plus elevations. Anyhow, I bought a guide and will not leave to hike the next section of the Long Trial without it.

The views of the stars from outside Glen Ellen Lodge was majestic as was the moon rising in a red ball over Mount Washington in the White Mountains. On a clear day you can see all the way to Mount Washington - what a view. If you have a good 35 mm camera with telephoto lense bring it. Your pictures will be worth the extra weight.