Browsed the Amazon Kindle store last night for free books. Easy enough to do, once you know how to set the search parameters. Lots of books are ones I'm not interested in, but here and there I snatched up a good one.

For free. One was 99 cents. Catch of the day.

Tonight I'll look for historical novels, if I can figure out how to sort for them. The trick is in the creation of the list. And the self-control not to pick up every book offered. So many books, so little time.

Speaking of books and personal time, I was musing on the idea that there's real mental freedom in knowing no one, nothing, can interrupt you. Not phone calls, not email, not hubby summoning from downstairs. Even the cats seem to sense that this is quiet time and they curl up and sleep companionably nearby.

I think that this is why I've treasured the periods of silence, the quiet times of solitude. Being left alone, but being surrounded by potential demands isn't the same thing. No wonder mystics down through the ages have gone into retreat.