Pawprints Upon My Heart

Book Description

A book of true stories dealing with wildlife rehabilitation and domestic animal rescue. This book has been approved by the American Humane Association.

Customer Reviews:

Heartwarming and Tear-Jerking.......2003-08-18

When I first looked at this book, I assumed it would be a two-day read that would make me laugh, cry, and wish I had that much courage. I was completely right. This little, inspiring book is fun and filled with more emotions than I thought were able to fit into the 109 pages this book contains. Mary Garwood's writing is witty and emotional. It's the little things, such as referring to a small orange kitten as "the size of a handful of caramel popcorn, while being as vulnerable and helpless as a newborn baby," that make her stories a read you'll remember. The twelve stories are encouraging and meaningful, and they are all true.

I have to say, above all, read the story entitled "Ben and Pooch The Saddest Story Ever Told." It really was the saddest story ever told. The pain and sorrow the words sent me while reading this book where unbearable. The thought of not finishing the story crossed my mind, in hopes of not crying. But I read on, to find tears rolling down my trembling face. The story was about the author's husband, Ben, and the puppy he had, named Pooch. During the first part of the story, it explains how Ben's family is suffering due to business and financial problems, and Ben painfully experiencing why bullies have earned such a bad reputation. To help sooth the pain, Pooch is adopted into the family. Ben and Pooch were all each of them had; Pooch was Ben's painkiller. In Mary Garwood's wording, "through all this Ben and Pooch, still as solid and strong hearted as ever, never changing and always true blue. A tight hug around his neck prompted a wag from his tail that coated the bruised and scarred feelings, calmed the racing heart, and cooled the knot in his aching stomach." After reading this story, I felt I had no further choice then to wrap my arms around my dog, Zack, and let him fill my heart with warmth and compassion as he always does.

I recommend this heart-warming, tear-jerking book to anyone with a passion for animals. It'll make you giggle, bawl, and inspire you. I enjoyed reading this book and hope others will read it, and have their souls' touched, just as mine was. --Reviewed by Marlee Elyse

Book Description

Well over a thousand years old, the tradition of swordmaking in Japan is one of the most highly regarded metal crafts in the world. When all sword manufacture was prohibited in Japan for seven years after World War II, the age-old techniques were in danger of being lost forever. Today, in the
hands of a new generation of practitioners, the craft is making a startling comeback. Connoisseurs say that the swords being produced now are the equal of anything made in Japan in the past few hundred years.

This book takes the reader into the workshops of four of Japan's leading sword craftsmen. Each craftsman has a different role in the manufacture of a blade. Yoshindo Yoshihara, the swordsmith, begins with raw steel made in a traditional charcoal-fueled smelter and refines it by folding and forging,
gradually shaping it into a sword with a hardened edge. Okisato Fujishiro then sharpens and polishes the sword with fine stones to reveal the color and texture of the steel. Metalworker Hiroshi Miyajima makes the small copper-and-gold habaki collar that fits between the blade and the scabbard.
Finally, Kazuyuki Takayama carves the hilt and the scabbard out of a single piece of wood. Black-and-white photographs show every stage of the manufacture, while important information on history, metallurgy, and modern-day appraisal is presented in an extensive introduction.

The swords made in Japan today are not, of course, intended for actual use. But their design, the quality of their steel, and the techniques used to create them still derive from the sword's historical function as a lethal hand-held weapon. A sword must be razor sharp, light, well balanced, and
strong, but not so brittle it will break. In the perfect resolution of these qualities lie the beauty of the blade and the challenge of the craft.

This book demonstrates how brilliantly Japan's sword craftsmen today have met this technological challenge. The impulse of the craft now is to preserve the utilitarian object and yet create an enduring art for the modern age. While many fine books on sword appreciation exist, these deal primarily
with older blades or problems of appraisal. The Craft of the Japanese Sword is the first book in English devoted entirely to contemporary sword manufacture, and will thus be of enormous value to metal artists everywhere, as well as to collectors and students of weaponry.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Book.......2007-07-28

This book is an excellent introduction to Japanese swordmaking by looking at modern masters and how they make swords. If you are just beginning an interest in Japanese swords and how they are made, this is the book for you. The book takes you through the process of forging the blade, polishing, making the habaki and finally the scabard. This book is highly recommended!

Back to roots.......2007-02-22

This book shows how a sword is made following the traditional metods. I loved it!

Greatest swordsmith?.......2006-04-29

This is the book which introduce many people outside Japan to understand modern Japanese sword making. It also helped Yoshindo Yoshihara to become one of the most recogniseble face amongst swordmakers in the West. Even so one must point out that although Yoshindo is very highly ranked in Japan he is by no means the finest swordmaker as we speak. His brother Shoji Yoshihara (who appeared in the Last Samurai)is considered more skillful and he is not alone amongst swordsmiths. However one cannot underestimate the contribution the author and Yoshindo san has made for swords by being involved in this wonderful publication.

Yoshindo Yoshihara Sensei.......2006-03-27

I known this swordsmith in Turin - Italy (April 2005): will showcase some of the phases inherent in the forging of a traditional katana (Japanese sword) using a forge built for the occasion by the master himself.

just what i was looking for.......2006-03-03

a great book in english not only for the old blade collector: it gives you a detailed idea of the stages involved in the creation of a nihonto and also takes a picture of moder days swordsmiths.

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The Art of Japanese Sword Polishing
Review of "The Art of Japanese Sword Polishing"...
Traditional techniques very different from ours
A very good introduction to sword polishing

The Art of Japanese Sword Polishing
Setsuo Takaiwa , Yoshindo Yoshihara , Leon Kapp , and Hiroko Kapp
Manufacturer: Kodansha International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 4770024940

Book Description

To understand Japanese sword polishing is to understand the Japanese sword. Down through the years, the great sword connoisseurs in Japan have been sword polishers. A swordsmith can spend a large amount of time forging a classic sword, but refining and bringing out its final shape, color and texture so that all the details of the steel and hamon (the temper line) are clearly visible is the responsibility of another craftsman - the sword polisher. An experienced polisher can tell immediately by whom a blade was made, so discintctive is each smith's work and so vital is such knowledge to the skilled polisher. The Art of Japanese Sword Polishing is the first book in English to examine in great detail the polisher's techniques - skills it often takes up to ten years of apprenticeship to master. The book illustrates the methods, materials and tools used for this process. But its true aim is to enable the reader to fully appreciate the beauty of a well-crafted Japanese sword. As readers learn both how the sword polisher enhances the beauty of the blade and how he handles the problems of coaxing out its finest qualities through his polishing techniques, they will come to a deeper understanding of the fine art of making the Japanese sword and will be able to view, purchase or collect swords with greater pleasure.

Customer Reviews:

The Art of Japanese Sword Polishing.......2007-01-12

Very Informative Great book To lean about grades of stones and thier uses

Review of "The Art of Japanese Sword Polishing"..........2007-01-10

After reading the book entitled "The Art of Japanese Sword Polishing" I now have a much clearer and detailed understanding of the process used by traditional Japanese sword polishers. The book takes the reader though all of steps from the foundation polish, used to shape and sharpen the blade, to the finish polish, which is used bring out the details of the steel and shape of the temper line, using good text and a fair number of detailed photographs. It includes some Japanese sword polish theory and how Japanese swords have changed over the historical periods. It also explains how the age of the sword can affect how the sword should be polished and what damage can and cannot be repaired by a polisher. In the last section of the book it contains a few profiles of professional Japanese sword polishers the authors of the book had interviewed which I enjoyed reading.
As someone who studies and appreciates the Japanese sword I found the book very helpful in educating me more about the process of how a Japanese sword is polished. I would recommended this book to anyone interested in learning in detail how Japanese swords are polished.

Traditional techniques very different from ours.......2006-08-08

Men have always decorated their weapons. The main items being decorated in the United States have been guns. But in Japan it is the traditional Japanese sword. Being more of a land of tradition, the Japanese sword became more or less standardized in shape as long ago as the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries and polishing the sword had to have followed shortly after that.

There are many books that describe the techniques of polishing and blueing guns. But this appears to be the first book available in English that discusses the polishing techniques used by Japanese craftsmen.

The Japanese practice is a strikingly different process than that used here. Polishing stones, not unlike whetstones but in far more diversity are used. A shop selling such stones is pictured with what appear to at least a couple of hundred different types of stones. And unlike here where stones are simply given numbers to indicate coarseness, in Japan they are given names.

The polishing area used with Japanese swords is a traditional form as well. It sits on the floor, and the polisher typically sits in a traditional position that most of us would find difficult to get into, and impossible to maintain for any period.

All in all, a fascinating book on techniques very different to those commonly used here.

A very good introduction to sword polishing.......2006-06-03

I wish I had this book 20 years ago when I first started to investigate the art of polishing. This book provides a wealth of information on the technigues, the material and the different ways that can be used to get a sword polisihed. In fact, the diversity of the art is highlighted by the book and certainly dispells the notion that there is only one way to restore a blade. The section on foundation polish discusses how to achieve the proper shape without removing too much material. The different stones are described and how each is used to establish and refine the shape. The finishing section covers the range of materials and tools used to bring out the grain and tempered edge unique to the Japanese sword. It also shows the burnishing and how to highlight the boshi.
There are sections that talk about the history of polishing, the schools of polishing and interviews with several modern polishers. As always there is a note warning about the perils to the blade that can be inflicted by an inexperienced person. The book doesn't reveal all the secrets to the art, such as the various forms of nugui (other than the basic hadori and sashikomi formulas),what types of stones work best with each school or era, etc. But it certainly does provide a well documented, well photographed look at this art form. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in Japanese swords.

The Connoisseurs Book of Japanese Swords

Average customer rating:

essential
The Connoisseurs Book of Japanese Swords
Buy it or you'll be sorry!
Amazing detail
An excellent piece of work!

The Connoisseurs Book of Japanese Swords
Kokan Nagayama
Manufacturer: Kodansha International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 4770020716

Book Description

Recently Japanese swords have gained enormous popularity as art objects with collectors and enthusiasts around the world, but until now much of the most detailed information on the subject has been available only in Japanese. This comprehensive guide to the appreciation and appraisal of the
blades of Japanese swords provides, at last, all the background that readers need to become true connoisseurs.

The book is organized along historical lines for the sake of clarity and convenience, and its approach is always practical. Broad discussions of each tradition within the Gokaden focus on the features that distinguish specific schools and smiths-the various kinds of jihada, hamon, boshi, and
hataraki favored in different periods and regions-making this an invaluable reference tool for all enthusiasts, especially those who wish to take part in kantei-kai, or sword appreciation meetings. Each section closes with an easy reference chart summarizing the distinctive features of the work of
various schools and smiths.

The chapter on terminology gives advice on what to look for when examining the different parts of a blade, again making reference to the unique features of particularly significant smiths. The chapter on care and appraisal of blades tells precisely how to handle blades and what to expect at a sword
appraisal meeting, including an explanation of all the various responses that a judge may give in response to a bid.

Richly illustrated throughout with more than 550 of the author's own painstaking oshigata illustrations-sword tracings onto which details are penciled in by hand-The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords is easily the most informative and comprehensive guide to the blades of Japanese swords ever to
appear in English.

Kokan Nagayama, who is widely recognized as one of the foremost living sword polishers, compiled the notes for this book over the course of many years spent teaching the arts of polishing and appraisal.

Nagayama-sensei is widely recognized as one of the foremost living sword polishers and is a veteran teacher of both polishing and appraisal. Here in one accessible volume he distills the store of knowledge he has gained over a lifetime of intensive research.

"Nagayama-sensei and his senior pupils have for many years now taken an enlightened approach to study of Japanese swords outside of Japan. They have been of great assistance to collectors here in Great Britain and in other countries, traveling and living abroad, organizing exhibitions, teaching us
and polishing our swords, always in an altruistic spirit. This translation is another example of this same approach. In the past we have often struggled on our own or in small groups to gain an understanding of this peculiarly Japanese cultural asset, and with many of the definitive books on the
subject still untranslated, a wealth of information has in the past been inaccessible to the non-Japanese reader. The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords will be of great help in making educated judgments at kantei sessions, and will be an invaluable and constant reference work."
-From the Foreword by Clive Sinclaire
Chairman of the Token Society of Great Britain

Customer Reviews:

essential.......2007-03-12

This book is essential for all that want to take a closer and deep knowledge on japanese swords. Complete and easy to use.

The Connoisseurs Book of Japanese Swords.......2006-11-09

This book must be the most informative (almost too much) but easy (as possible considering the subject) to read book I have ever owned. It really does have everything you need to know if you are thinking about purchasing a sword. I live in Japan, and when I showed my book to the shop owner I am friends with he was very impressed. Even with a language barrier we were able to communicate about certain features of swords that he was selling in his shop. A must buy if you have any interest on the subject.

Buy it or you'll be sorry!.......2004-01-14

This book contains more info than one could even imagine! In fact, that's all I'm going to say becuase it would take to long for me to even give you even a basic idea! I will tell you this: If you don't have this book in your library then you are missing out big time!!!!! Oh, by the way, the illustrations are awesome too!!!!

Enjoy and make sure that you have a weekend free to read.... you'll need it ;-)

Amazing detail.......2002-05-12

I'm not really into sword collecting, but I nonetheless found
this book to be fascinating. Two-thirds of it is pure reference
material related to particular sword makers and that part would be
invaluable to collectors, but it is not of general interest. The
descriptions of the history of swordmaking and the attributes of
the craftsmanship, however, stands on its own as interesting reading.
One comes away with a much greater appreciation of the art form.

An excellent piece of work!.......2000-08-24

The Connoisseur's Book is exceptionally detailed and not to mention very aesthetically pleasing. The book itself has the feel and look of a high-quality encyclopedia. As should be expected, the information inside is very well detailed. It is an excellent book and I very strongly recommend it, particularly if you are ready to start deeper in-depth studies of Nihonto. For a novice, I would probably suggest the books by Sato and Yumoto. But this is what I feel would be a step beyond those.

Absolutely marvelous. Well written, very clear, of course as was mentioned in another review it sorta lacks photographs, but that's quite OK, as the illustrations do an excellent job of portraying things.

For those of you who are more passively interested, this book will be overkill and unnecessary when you can do well with the aforementioned books, but if you are serious...this book is a splendid piece of work that will be VERY enjoyable for you to delve into. Not only for information, but as a good read.

Average customer rating:

Review of The New Generation of Japanese Swordsmiths

Another MUST HAVE book!!!

All I can say is WOW!

the new generation of japanese swordsmiths

The New Generation of Japanese Swordsmiths
Tamio Tsuchiko
Manufacturer: Kodansha International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Modern Japanese Swords and Swordsmiths: From 1868 to the Present

The Art of Japanese Sword Polishing

The Craft of the Japanese Sword

The Connoisseurs Book of Japanese Swords

The Japanese Sword: A Comprehensive Guide (Japanese Arts Library)

ASIN: 4770028547

Book Description

Unparalleled in its deadly cutting power, strength, and enduring elegance, the Japanese sword is a triumph of both technical merit and mythical appeal. For a thousand years the Japanese sword was the linchpin of the warrior class, the mainstay of social order, and the definitive weapon on the
battlefield.

Now incongruous with modern warfare and society, its practical role has been consigned to history. But the sword has retained its artistic and symbolic power. Most of the qualities that are considered aesthetically pleasing in the sword, from the intricate patterns on the steel itself to the blade's
characteristic curvature, derive from its function as a weapon. The sword must embody both lightness and durability, and the blade requires a toughness that is not too brittle or its effectiveness as a weapon would be compromised. The perfect harmony of these conflicting elements characterizes the
swordsmith's art.

The history of swordmaking was interrupted in the wake of World War II, when the occupying forces banned all activities associated with the Japanese sword. Many of the old swords were destroyed and, for those remaining, their status as weapons was changed forever. Today's working craftsmen form a
new chapter in this history as they revive the art form and find a vital, meaningful role for the sword in modern society.

In this insightful volume, noted sword expert, journalist, and editor, Tamio Tsuchiko, explores the world of gendaito, visiting its practitioners and sharing views and ideas. Through close-up interviews with twenty gendai-tosho, and dialogues between smiths and polishers, Tsuchiko presents the
reader with a fascinating and enriching array of experiences, theories, and reflections from those at the forefront of modern sword craftsmanship, as they take this ancient art into purely aesthetic directions. Never before has such a thorough and illuminating study of this kind emerged.

The book is divided into three parts, the first of which provides a context of sword history, from the types of blades, their respective periods, and the prominent styles of workmanship. This will primarily be of interest to specialists. Diagrams accompany explanations of key terminology, which can
be cross-referenced in a detailed glossary and index.

The centerpiece of The New Generation of Japanese Swordsmiths, however, hinges on part two, in which Tsuchiko visits twenty gendai-tosho, revealing their thoughts, experiences, and aims, and providing the reader with the most comprehensive discourse on gendaito to appear in English.

In part three, Tsuchiko presents in-depth interviews with three of the leading figures of the sword society: Akitsugu Amata (Living National Treasure swordsmith); Kokan Nagayama (Living National Treasure sword polisher); and Mitsuo Shibata (Japan's most influential sword dealer). Each offers his own
unique insight into the dynamic and changing picture of gendaito.

Including over one hundred photographs of the artists and their most recent creations, this will be an important addition to the libraries of collectors, craftsmen and sword aficionados, as well as those with a more general interest in Japanese weaponry.

Customer Reviews:

Review of The New Generation of Japanese Swordsmiths.......2007-07-22

This is an excellent book for the novice and high-end collector alike. If you own, study or are interested in the Japanese Sword, then you must add this volume to your library. This is about the lives and work of 20 top swordsmiths of Japan, their craft, methods,insights and open discussions about shinsakuto, the modern day Japanese Sword, forged only in the rigid standards of the old school smiths.

Another MUST HAVE book!!!.......2006-02-21

This book interviews twenty blade smiths and also has interviews with polishers, too!

The reader will be enriched by the thoughts and experiences of these craftsmen and gain a greater appreciation for their craft.

This is a great reference book for anyone studying or even remotely interested in modern Nihon-to and classical Nihon-to.

All I can say is WOW!.......2004-01-14

This book is going to be one of those books that will become legendary in the nihonto world. A very facinating look into todays up and coming smiths, their work, and where they see the future of the sword is going. An absolute must for the library, and an excellent resource for nihonto collectors!

the new generation of japanese swordsmiths.......2003-10-14

An excellant companion book to any study of mondern Nihon-to and classical Nihon-to. Detailed descriptions of swords, and great biographical material on the smiths. The son of Yoshihara Yohindo, who wrote "The Craft of the Japanese Sword", is among those interviewed. He has become a respected & licensed smith since his father's book was published in 1985.

Book Description

These essays suggest realistic, practical strategies for using small groups in math teaching and learning. Educators such as Marilyn Burns, Roberta Dees, and Calvin D. Crabill tell why cooperative learning involves much more than "just putting students together... and giving them a task. Grades 1-12

Cooperative Learning in Mathematics: A Handbook for Teachers.

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Cooperative Learning in Mathematics: A Handbook for Teachers.

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000ICPRXU

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Like a "Dr. Spock" for adoption issues.

Making Sense of Adoption: A Parent's Guide
Lois Ruskai Melina
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Adoption | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
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Raising Adopted Children, Revised Edition: Practical Reassuring Advice for Every Adoptive Parent

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Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

ASIN: 0060963190

Book Description

When to tell, What to tell, and How to tell

Children who are adopted have predictable and often unspoken concerns about themselves and how they joined their families. In this wise and timely guide, Lois Melina, author of the classic manual Raising Adopted Children, helps parents anticipate and respond to those concerns in ways that build self-esteem. Through sample conversations, reassuring advice, and age-specific activities parents will find answers to such questions as:

-- When should I give my child the letter her birthmother wrote?
-- How do I share information that might upset my child?
-- How can I know when my child is wondering about adoption?
-- What should I tell school personnel about my child's history? What about family and friends?
-- How can I be sure we talk about adoption enough, but not too much?

Whether parents adopted traditionally, as stepparents, or through donor insemination, surrogacy, or in vitro fertilization, Making Sense of Adoption will open the door to a lifetime of growth and understanding for adoptive families.

Customer Reviews:

Like a "Dr. Spock" for adoption issues........2000-08-24

Excellent and extremely useful book. For example, the chapter on the Middle Childhood Years is entitled, "Why didn't they keep me?" and is full of useful advice about how to answer that critical and inevitable question.

Making Sense of Adoption : A Parent's Guide

Average customer rating:

Making Sense of Adoption : A Parent's Guide
Lois Ruskai Melina
Manufacturer: Perennial Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OEO5WQ

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