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

by Faith Andrews Bedford (Author) "My sister's car disappeared over the top of the hill, her faint "toot" of farewell telling me she had turned onto the main road..." (more)
Key Phrases: Cousin Becca, Miss Rose, Uncle Arthur (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Faith Andrews Bedford, a favorite with Country Living's readers, captures the magic of summer, childhood, and home in a moving collection of essays.

For years, the readers of Country Living have adored Faith Andrews Bedford's evocative stories, featured in her beloved bi-monthly column, "Kids in the Country." This enchanting collection invites everyone to join Bedford as she movingly recaptures the modest triumphs of children, the importance of family traditions, and the simple pleasures of country life. In "Sister Dresses," Faith's mother finds three special Easter outfits "all exactly the same," delighting her daughters. "Time & a Bottle" tells of Faith's girlhood walks along the beach, where she hoped that the sea glass she collected "had come from a perfume bottle thrown into the water a century ago by an elegant lady in France." Every one of these essays explores the beauty in the ordinary and the meaning in the everyday.

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Product Details Hardcover: 224 pages Publisher: Hearst (June 1, 2005) Language: English ISBN-10: 1588164519 ISBN-13: 978-1588164513 Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #489,658 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in this category: (What's this?) #58 in  Books > Entertainment > Humor > Rural Life

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First Sentence:
My sister's car disappeared over the top of the hill, her faint "toot" of farewell telling me she had turned onto the main road. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Cousin Becca, Miss Rose, Uncle Arthur, Blue Ridge Mountains, New England, Nature Center, New York City, May Day, Truck City, Aunt Gertrude, Cape Cod Bay, New Jersey, Salvation Army, San Francisco

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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 3 books:

• Merry Christmas by Deanne Urmy on page 39
• The Star Spangled Banner (Patriotic) by Calvert Gamwell on page 70
• Little Red Riding Hood (Favourite fairy tales) by Swan on page 139

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Customer Reviews

11 Reviews 5 star:  (10) 4 star:  (1) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.9 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 9 of 9 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Country Living Barefoot Summers, June 24, 2005 By  Madeleine Gyr (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    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. 9 of 9 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Evocative essays bring back warm memories, June 13, 2005 By  Cecily Hartman "Mother of Five" (Weston, MA) - See all my reviews 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. 8 of 8 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Summer Reading - or for any other season, June 21, 2005 By  Bonnie Whitely "A Country Reader" (Portsmouth, NH) - See all my reviews 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.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars Super summer read - memories This is a very good and easy summer read. Each story brings back memories. Recommend it every summer or when you feel down and need a pick me up. Published 11 months ago by Deborah K. Blackstone 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Mother's Day Gift Ms. Bedford is one of those women who make life a joy for all those who come into contact with her or her writing. Read more Published on March 14, 2006 by Professor Donald Mitchell 5.0 out of 5 stars So warm! Takes me back to my own childhood, reminded me of things I had not thought of in far too long. Wonderful! Published on September 11, 2005 by Natalie 5.0 out of 5 stars Bedtime Reading A friend gave me this wonderful book and, now that I have read it, I have bought it for my two daughters, my mom and my aunt. Read more Published on July 3, 2005 by Rachel Worsley 5.0 out of 5 stars Teacher finds wonderful ideas in this book As a long time reader of Country Living I have enjoyed Faith Andrews Bedford's stories very much. But not until I bought this book did I realize how many wonderful ideas for... Read more Published on June 27, 2005 by Eugenia Snyder 5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect summer read 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. Read more Published on June 23, 2005 by Priscilla Angelo 5.0 out of 5 stars A Father's Day gift that brought tears to my eyes 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,... Read more Published on June 21, 2005 by Thomas Nelson 5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulous collection of stories I've been a fan of Faith Andrews Bedford ever since I read one of her "Kids in the Country" columns in Country Living magazine about ten years ago. Read more Published on May 18, 2005 by elizabeth goodwin Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Hearst (June 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1588164519
• ISBN-13: 978-1588164513
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #489,658 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #58 in

  Books > Entertainment > Humor > Rural Life

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Country Living Barefoot Summers, June 24, 2005

By	Madeleine Gyr (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Evocative essays bring back warm memories, June 13, 2005

By	Cecily Hartman "Mother of Five" (Weston, MA) - See all my reviews

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Summer Reading - or for any other season, June 21, 2005

By	Bonnie Whitely "A Country Reader" (Portsmouth, NH) - See all my reviews

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.