Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
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Did you feel it? We experienced an earthquake in Tehachapi this past week. It was a moderate quake and broke some glassware but did not bring devastation. The next time could. We live in a very active zone where the earth is stretching and pushing itself in all directions. This quake was a good reminder to be prepared for the ever rattling of the earth beneath our feet in California. Families have checked their evacuation kits and talked to their children again about earthquake safety and emerge...
When looking for a good read, I don't necessarily reach for a literary tome full of weighty revelations and ponderous journeys. Depending on the moment, I might search for a reckless adventure or be tempted with something softer, letting a story wrap around me like a warm summer breeze. It can be lightly written, with characters not deeply carved but rather sketched in soft pastels, people that would fit into my own life. That is what I found in "The Hotel at Beach and Forgotten" by Nellie...
Mail delivery used to be the highlight of the day. The mailman would drive up to the box by the road or drop mail through the slot in the door, and the sound would have everyone running to see if perhaps they "got mail." My grandmother wrote often and profusely about both the growth and bloom of each flower in her garden, and the death of every person in her community, whether we were acquainted or not. It didn't matter. It was a connection. In early America, letters with family news and importa...
Have you ever been in a bragging contest? Trying to one up the other guy with something like, "my fish was so big the boat started to sink." Swearing that a series of incredible events really happened in relation to subjects like ghosts, aliens or time travel? A tall tale is an account that is fanciful and difficult to believe. Perhaps exaggerating in order to make a story more enticing while creating an incredible visual for the entertainment of an audience of one or a roomful. The difference...
I was looking out at the crazy winds, having their way with everything in their path, when out of the corner of my eye I saw a large brown something twisting around. It could have been just the wind whipping free a banner attached to the baseball fencing behind home plate. But I have to say, my first impression was a dragon. It honestly looked like a dragon. Not a big one – rather small in size, but a dragon nonetheless. With a large enough wing span to be mighty and some spiky things on its b...
If you know what a huckleberry is, you are mighty lucky! Smaller than a blueberry, a luscious dark purple when ripe, they are sweet with a hint of wildness. Huckleberries are found growing in the Pacific Northwest along mountain slopes, in forests, around lakes and are almost impossible to grow commercially. So they remain wild and free for the picking. At elevations above 5,000 feet, competition for a ripe huckleberry in late July into August is intense. Equally relished by both man and bear...
Tehachapi is not known for an easy or speedy spring. While most of California basks in early flowers, Tehachapi is whipped with winds and a threat of frost for those impatient to plant gardens early. Today as I look outside, the bushes at my windows have finally budded, the row of poplars across the street are resounding like ocean waves as winds rush through their fresh new leaves and last but not least, the mighty oaks have lazily stretched their limbs accepting the inevitable. Spring has...
May is the month we focus on flowers and mothers. Flowers can be tended in gardens or found growing free on hillsides and in unexpected places like cracks in the sidewalk. Though flowers look delicate blowing in the breeze, they are made of hearty stuff and endure with great strength whatever life throws at them. The same can be said for mothers. It would not be an exaggeration to say that mothers are the backbone of society, civilization and life as we know it. We owe our very existence to a...
I love the song "Blowin' in the Wind," written and first sung by Bob Dylan, then performed by many folk icons including Peter, Paul and Mary and Joan Baez. The words and melody weave between war, freedom and peace, asking and answering its own questions. How many roads, how many years, how many tears? The answers are both obvious and intangible at the same time, intangible as the wind. The Tehachapi Wind Festival at Meadowbrook Park was promoted for April 20 as a family affair of kite flying, ga...
The bee's knees was flattering praise used by flappers in the 1920s and even earlier in the 1800s when shop owners sent their buyers out to "find me the bee's knees," meaning they wanted the best materials for their business. The term bee's knees defines something that is surprisingly wonderful or cool. It's a compliment. It's also a descriptor from the olden days, grown out of its prime and now passe'. But did you know that bees actually do have knees? They have what could be termed balls and s...
This is the season where families invite rabbits into their homes, rabbits who bring baskets of goodies. The most playful ones take joy in hiding colored eggs for children to find. Dyed eggs and chocolates abound, with an abundance of jelly beans and the occasional sugary peep. Spring has sprung and Easter is nigh. Rabbits as main characters in novels abound as well. The poignant "Velveteen Rabbit" by Margery Williams brings us the tender story of love between a boy and his stuffed rabbit. A...
It's time again for green beer, Irish butter and corned beef with cabbage, or for non-meat eaters, maybe a lovely veggie platter of potatoes, cabbage and carrots garnished with parsley and pearl onions. Yes, St. Patrick's Day has arrived. The wearing of the green comes with leprechauns and perhaps a sprinkling of fairies. Or maybe cowboys. I did cover Irish cowboys a few years back, but as with many good books, revisiting with a new eye brings a fresh perspective. The Irish cowboy was real,...
What do dogs, bears and meerkats have in common? Well, usually not that much, but in this review they all are surrounded by mystery and murder. Three authors have woven stories around these animals, and it may be hard to recognize the leading characters, because as you know, children and animals tend to steal the show. I enjoyed sharing a dog's point of view along with runaway Chase Ryder and grieving veterinarian Sully, in "Wanted." In this first book by K.J. Corgan of the Chase Ryder series,...
After all the reds and pinks of Valentine's Day, I think of February as being a lavender month. Perhaps that is because February's birthstone is amethyst, with its deep purple brilliance and luster. Or perhaps I am ready for spring flowers with the happy faces of pansies, an early contender in the garden. Whatever the reason, I chose the following books to review because of their covers. This is not my usual process. "Tea is for Trouble," by Karen Sue Walker, presents cover art of a pretty...
What can be more romantic than the moon? That big mysterious orb shines softly down on earth in the darkness of night, while sliding translucent across daylight skies. Whether full or merely slivers of itself, the moon is surrounded by billions of stars holding the secrets of the universe close, while enticing lovers to embrace. February is the month of love, offering an abundance of flowers from florists, to grocery stores and street corners. There is candy too, especially tempting chocolates...
January is a good month to dream as it is the month that we honor Martin Luther King Jr. We are reminded of his dream speech and his desire for a time when promises of freedom, justice and equality becomes a reality for all. There are so many books on King, written for all ages and all kinds of readers. The book I enjoy the most is the illustrated picture book "I Have a Dream" with its simplicity and vibrant art embracing the spirit of King's speech and giving weight and purpose to each one of...
I can't remember not having some kind of snowfall before or right after Thanksgiving in Tehachapi. Yet, here I sit writing this review a few days before New Years, without a flake in sight. What is up with that? It is totally possible that between the time I submit my book review and the actual printing and physical delivery of the paper, snow will have fallen. But then again, it may not. I am prepared with either outcome as I have books filled with snow. Timeless picture books have introduced c...
In this issue, we celebrate the 5th anniversary of everyone's favorite bookworm. On Dec. 22, 2018, Midge Lyn'dee published her first book review with The Loop newspaper. Since then, more than 150 reviews have been written, 350 books explored and countless gems of wisdom provided. Join us as we thank Midge for inspiring us to pick up a book, grab a cup of our favorite warm beverage and get lost in words. Keep us reading Midge! Celebrations Have you been celebrating this December? Celebrating...
Some people need to ease into a holiday mood in order to embrace all the trimmings. I just jump right in and immediately enjoy it all. The lights, the music, the overwhelming number of Hallmark movies. I especially enjoy the books. I first turn toward the classics. "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens remains a world treasure as the story of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge (first published in 1843) survives numerous re-writings and performances, on both stage and big screen, by many actors over the...
Why is the raven like a writing desk? That is the important first question in the novel "The Wishing Game" by Meg Shaffer. I was delighted to find this book because it had a raven in it and fit so nicely with the Raven serial in this issue. The raven in this story is both a riddle and real. Author Jack Masterson is an eccentric man who wrote a series of very successful children's books about Clock Island and the adventures of children searching for wishes. Masterson has a pet raven he rescued...
Wouldn't it be wonderful to see the world with new eyes? As a baby grows and learns, it sees the world for the first time. The baby explores all the simple wonders that we now take for granted as we whiz right by. We most likely no longer marvel at our own shadow, the leaf of a tree, a piece of straw, how the breeze feels so soft, how fuzzy soft a bee looks. Living here for a time sadly takes the wonder edge off of our daily lives. If you are lucky to have a baby in your life, you may be...
The difference between cozy and gritty mysteries is immense. Would you rather snuggle with a teddy bear or a cholla cactus? Yes, that extreme. Cozy mysteries coax you into the story with a comfy chair, soft blanket and a steaming mug of hot chocolate. The gritty mystery grabs you and won't let go, even when you try to put it down and run. Both are layered in degrees, building to their conclusion. I suppose it depends on what kinds of books you enjoy the most, whether you can be satisfied with a...
Serials were discussed a few years back in a previous book review. At the time we sponsored our own Loop serial called "Valley of Light" with contributions from the community. It's time to try it again! A serial is where a story is divided up into segments and given to readers a bit at a time. Charles Dickens wrote his novels and published them in serial form, some weekly, others monthly, leaving his readers yearning for more. Serials have a constant story arc that proceeds forward over time,...
Have you ever wished for a machine that time travels? Where would you go? Do you want to know the future? Or would you rather experience the past? Can we learn from the past to make our future better? Museums are a time capsule that promotes time travel. Displays, photographs and sometimes even audio recordings tell us the "story" that was. Our Tehachapi Museum has such displays and a wealth of literature that can be looked through and purchased, materials that highlight the twists and turns of...
I love a good story and hate when it ends. Have you ever felt that way? Do you miss your favorite characters and wish to know what else they might be doing? Or perhaps something happened in your book and you want it to have a different result? I am forever altering stories in my head, especially to create happy endings. There is actually a name for this process. It is called fan fiction. There is a controversy whether the term itself should be fan fiction or fanfiction. Either way, it...
