Country Living Barefoot Summers: Reflections on Home, Family, and Simple Pleasures

I had long loved Faith Andrews Bedford's writing, found her in Victoria and Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion and best of all in Country Living. But I had not seen her column there recently and so was thrilled to find in their pages a contest to win one of these beautiful books. I didn't win so I bought one and devoured it in two sittings! It is hard to put down. The memorable essays are like peanuts. You cannot have just one. As a matter of fact it lives on my beside table since the stories are so peaceful and soothing I am reading some of them for a second time. If you are tired and frazzeled and you wonder why you ever have kids just read a couple of these stories and they will put it all into perspective for you.

A wonderful, warm book! It shows that life can be good and pleasures found all around us for free. I was born and raised in Switzerland; nevertheless, my childhood was not dissimilar to Faith's growing up in the United States. No matter what the continent, children remain children and life's delights are equal all over. One just has to open his/her eyes and hearts and savor what is given to us.

My wife gave me this wondreful book for Father's Day. Why, you might ask would a guy want to read a book by a woman who writes the "Kids in the Country" column for what is, basically, a women's magazine? Well, it is precisely because we are raising our kids in the country and trying to give them a tradition-rich life close to nature and with respect for each other and the earth. That is EXACTLY what Mrs. Bedford's stories are all about. In some, it was as though she had been observing our family from afar - we love to pick ripe berries and make our own jam, we catch fireflies in the evenings and wonder at their special"Morse Code," we walk hand in hand on beaches watching our children searching for sea glass. But Mrs. Bedford seems to find special meaning in these, and a host of ordinary things. And it was that that meant the most to me. It is a gift I shall treasure.

I picked this book because I loved the title(I hate shoes and adore summer) and enjoy Country Living. I didn't even notice that the writer is my favorite columnist from that magazine. I have long loved Faith's work and always turned to her column first. She seems to be able to put her finger on the pulse of what makes a family whole and lovely. All of her essays have the ability to conjure up wonderful memories and have a gentle message. I've started up several traditions with my children because of her Kids in the Country column and the wonderful way she has of expressing the joy of childhood,the satisfaction of motherhood and the wonder of being a grandparent - although I'm not there yet, her stories make me eager to become one. I cannot recommend this slim volume highly enough and at this price I shall us it for gifts often.

Each of these essays was like a little gift. Every single one called back wonderful memories and treasured moments in time. I sometimes wondered if Ms. Andrews Bedford was looking over my shoulder as I read to my children or peered over the garden fence as my sisters and I played dress up in our yard. How does she do it? How does she tap into the vein of caring that runs through all families that honor and value each member and make it unique to her own experience yet so very similar to that of her readers. I look forward to a second volume and will use this wonderful book as presents for my children to give to their teachers at the end of school.