A Summer Full Of Books

This hot, humid summer has kept me at home more than usual. My excursions have been put on hold until cooler weather. Staying home has given me extra time to read. I've always had a schedule for reading; my Bible and a devotional book right after breakfast, children's books at lunch, mid-afternoon short read, and novels before bed.

I read children's books at lunch because they are short and I don't sit there nibbling until I reach the end of a chapter. I'm reading through my collection of Little Golden Books. I have enough to keep me reading for a while. So far, I've read 106 and I haven't read all the ones on the top shelf. There is another full shelf below it. Can you guess I love them? I will admit the story line in a lot of them is not so good. Of course, there are great ones especially everything written by Margaret Wise Brown. So, you ask "why do you collect them? It's the illustrations. Little Golden books have amazingly, talented illustrators.

For my mid-afternoon short read I'm reading Caldecott winners and honorees. The Caldecott Medal, named in honor of nineteenth-century English Illustrator Randolph J. Caldecott, was first given in 1937. It is awarded annually to illustrators and artists who have created the most distinguished picture books for children.

Do you see a pattern in my reading? Illustrations! I'm a big, big fan of beautifully illustrated children's picture books.

One of my favorite author/illustrators is Beatrix Potter. Her tiny books with realistic animals who have incredible names,  cute clothes, and cozy little homes just make me happy. The illustrations in these books are based on the area where Potter lived, her homes, and her friends. And then there's the added bonus that those animals all talk! I've read all twenty-four of her tiny books, beginning with The Tale of Peter Rabbit and ending with "A Tale of Little Pig Robinson.

Reading those delightful tales led me to another series of books I read by Susan Wittig Albert. Albert brings Beatrix Potter to life in her adult fiction books. I enjoyed all eight in the series which began with The Tale of Hill Top Farm and ended with The Tale of Castle Cottage. Her books, though fiction, are based on facts and take you through the adult life of Beatrix Potter. They were such enjoyable reading. One of the most delightful parts was that the animals talk just like in the Peter Rabbit books!

As I read Potter's little books and looked at her illustrations, I began to really admire her and wanted to read more about her life. She was an amazing person. You know that random question occasionally asked "If you could spend a day with a famous person who would it be?" My answer is Beatrix Potter! I would love to spend the day with her at Hill Top Farm or Castle Cottage. Beatrix Potter called herself a part of "children that never grow up" an illusion to another children's hero, Peter Pan. I think she and I would have been kindred spirits.

   

I even honored her in a couple of my "junk journal" pages. The one on the left has a picture of Hill Top Farms. The right page has one of her delightful bunny illustrations. Ignore the Mr. Goodbar candy wrapper. These pages were made using prompts, the candy wrapper being one. 

Some novels I've read this summer:

The Book Charmer and A Cup of Silver Lining

by Karen Hawkins

They were both whimsical and easy to read books, yet they were insightful into family and small-town relationships. I probably should mention that there just might be talking books and magic teas in them, but who doesn't need a little fantasy now and then! After all, we all loved pumpkins changing into coaches, fairies living under toadstools, and talking magic dragons! Didn't we? 

I also read The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. This was not an easy read. It is a deep and sometimes heartbreaking story of a family during the great depression.

My latest read was Marilla of Green Gables by Sarah McCoy. I've always been a fan of Anne of Green Gables. This book takes us back to Marilla's life before Anne arrived. It was an easy, enjoyable read. I especially enjoyed her wonderful descriptions of nature. 

Things I don't like to read are

mystery series where the person solves numerous murders in the same small town. Seriously? How many murders can one town have?

books with bad language. I do not want my heroes and heroines speaking such words. Surely there's better words to describe feelings than curse words. (just my opinion)

biographies and autobiographies. I find them boring or bragging.

I'll quit clicking these computer keys now. I think I've already been way to long! I wasn't going to write so much this time, but I did it anyway!  To me my blog is a type of journal and the words just flow out! Thank you for sticking with me to the end!

I'll leave you with these words from

A Cup of Silver Linings by Karen Hawkins

"Books are warriors.

If you let them,

they'll fight off

boredom,

pain,

fear,

even loneliness."

Paint it on a Wall

In the last few years murals have been popping up around Little Rock. Most of them are downtown close to Main Street, but there are a few in different neighborhoods. For a long time I've wanted to find them and take pictures. That is not an easy thing to accomplish with the difficulties in parking downtown. There are approximately 30 murals, some close together and some spread apart. Parking the car in a parking deck doesn't work, it's too far to walk in the summer heat. Parking close to the murals means putting money in several parking meters. I'm not ready to put that much money in meters just to jump out and take a picture or two. Jerry solved the problem for me. He volunteered to be my chauffeur. We went on a weekend when meter parking was free. When I found a mural, he'd park or if that wasn't availble he would drop me off at a corner, circle the block and pick me up. All very safely, of course!! Another advantage of Jerry driving, he kept the car cool!

Butterflies by Youri Cansell

This mural is part of the ARkanvas project, an initiative installing twelve pieces of public art across the state. The butterflies and moths are all native to The Natural State.

Woman With Dog by Steven Otis

A perfect mural to be on the side of Esse Purse Museum.

Yes We Can by Steven Otis

On the opposite side of the Purse Museum is a long mural.  I'm only showing a section because there were so many cars parked in front of it.  It's singing and dancing fruit may be the happiest mural in Little Rock.

Playtime by Jason Jones

This is one of my favorites. I mean who doesn't love a BIG red wagon? The wagon contains landmarks of downtown Little Rock; buildings, the railroad walking bridge, the Clinton Presidential Library, the State Capitol, the River Market district, and a streetcar. It encourages everyone to come downtown and play.

Eat Local Eat Often by Casey Siegel

There are several murals on the side of this parking deck by various artists. If you know me, you'll know I took the top one because of that bright pink donut! The ground between the parking deck and another building is covered with artificial turf and has picnic tables. This would be a great spot to eat lunch if you worked downtown and wanted to eat outside.

Talk With Your Hands

by Arkansas School for the Deaf Students

This amazing mural covers a block-long concrete wall. My favorite section is painted with the deaf sign for "I love you." Beginning as babies, we taught our grandchildren to form this hand sign. That way anywhere we were, we could quietly and secretly say I love you.

Mr. Rogers 143 by Levi Agee

This mural surprised me! I had no idea Mr. Rogers was downtown. The portrait on a door represents the idea of being kind to one another. The numbers 143 mean two things. In Pennsylvania, the birthplace of Mr. Rogers, the 143rd day of the year is a day of kindness in honor of the state's beloved kindness patron and promoter. The number also had a special meaning to Mr. Rogers, it reflected the number of letters in his favorite phrase, "I love you."

Edgar by Jaquite Bell

With a black crow whose name is Edgar, one automatically thinks of Edgar Allen Poe's poem The Raven. I'm guessing on this one, but I'm pretty sure that's what it represents. Also notice how the left wall, table, and chair have been painted. I like that a lot!

Covid-19 by Guy Bell

This is another long mural that I'm only showing part of. I didn't realize when I saw it what it represented, nor did I know the name of it. The tree men look like they are trying to get rid of Covid, which is massive. To me it looks like a citizen, a medical worker, and a first responder. Also, notice the couple watching TV as they are isolated together. There's also an ambulance in the right corner. I wondered why such an intricate painting is on a temporary wall. Maybe that's significant too. Maybe it's in hope that Covid will one day be gone.

Peace by Jose Hernandez and other various artists

The first mural painted on the concrete walls of this underpass was painted by Jose Hernandez. Other artist joined him in painting sections. Although the theme is peace, they are not all peaceful. Some are angry and disturbing to me. 

Welcome to Stifft's Station by Matt McLeod

Another favorite of mine. I love the bright colors and I love old streetcars. Stifft's Station is a former streetcar stop for The Heights neighborhood. The streetcar ran from 1904 until 1947.

Chanel by Kristin McCaslin

This delightful mural is painted on the side of Fashion Exchange, an upscale ladies' consignment boutique.

There have been murals on walls throughout the history of the world. People scratched them, carved them, etched them and painted them. I'm glad Little Rock decided to beautify the city and also teach through murals. As I scrolled back through my pictures, I realized the different emotions they brought to me. Some impressed me with their beauty, some made me smile and giggle, some made me think, some brought feelings of nostalgia, and some made me remember. 

Once again let me mention that this project would not have been possible without Jerry's help. Thank you, dear!