A Favorite Place

I recently discovered that February is National Library Lovers Month.

"The entire month of February is dedicated to the people who love whole buildings devoted to the reading, housing, organizing, categorizing, finding, studying and otherwise loving books." (source)

February is a great month to devote to libraries, books, and reading, since we are usually stuck inside a little more due to the weather. I decided to visit the library and take my camera along for some pictures.

I headed to the children's section first. I knew I could find special books there. Children's books take a lot of wear and tear. You can readily see the ones that have been read many times.

The little board books are kept in bins on a low shelf. I wonder how long these stay in the correct bin!

I am fortunate that there are eleven libraries within thirty minutes of my home. I have visited everyone of them. Each has its own personality and beauty. Some have walking paths nearby, some have exhibit rooms for art, some have comfy nooks to spend some quiet time, and one has only children's books.

I'm addicted to checking out books. I tell myself the whole way to the library that I only need to check out a couple of books, but then I get there, I weaken, and go home with four to six. I think that's because checking out two books is just to quick. I need to spend more time roaming the shelves

In celebration of libraries and books here's a couple of websites you might find interesting. Just click on the blue words to be magically transported to their websites.

There is a book-shaped mural on a grain silo in Incheon, South Korea that is supposed to be the world's largest mural.

There's also book-like benches in Poland.

We have holidays for just about everything now, but I am glad there is a special day for those of us who love libraries. I hope you'll make a point to stop by your local library this month.

"The only thing you

absolutely have to know

is the location of the library."

~ Albert Einstein

Randomness

Definition of random:

• without definite aim, direction, rule, or method subjects chosen at random

Random is a good description of how my life has been lately. No real aim or direction, no plans; just living in the moment.

I marveled at the needlework samplers in an exhibit at the Historic Arkansas Museum which was entitled: These Various Threads I Drew. The exhibit featured needlepoint samplers from 19th century women. Many were made by school girls who were practicing their skills.

My sweet husband brought me roses for Valentine's Day.

In the few hours when the rain wasn't falling, I wandered in the woods. I wonder which woodpecker made the holes in this dead pine tree; the large Red-headed Woodpecker or the small Downy Woodpecker. They both regular visitors around here.

I discovered that I'm not the only one running around in the mud.

This little leaf seems to represent the state of my mind lately . . . going in crazy circles!

This is why my mind is jumping around and totally overwhelmed! I was diagnosed earlier this month with breast cancer. Thankfully I have the best type of breast cancer. It is noninvasive and after surgery I will be cancer free. I'm writing this as a reminder for each of you to be sure and have your yearly mammogram. I always have and this time the cancer was seen. The type of cancer I have can be unpredictable and very aggressive if not caught early. Oh, I'm so grateful that it was! So, do your self exams and get those mammograms. It just might save your life!!

That's enough of randomness for now. By the way, the very top picture of clouds in the beautiful blue skies was taken during a small break from the dull, dreary skies we've had for many, many days. You know I was outside enjoying those hours!

"Expose yourself to as much randomness as possible."

~ Ben Casnocha

Scene & Story May 2017

The month of May was a busy month with family times, beautiful garden strolls, and road trips. Needless to say I took a lot of pictures, but as I looked back through them one stood out above the others. It was taken at Springfield Botanical Gardens in a section which included the oldest cabin in Springfield, barns, a kitchen, a granary, and a one-room schoolhouse. The buildings weren't open the day I was there, but steps had been provided under the windows so you could peek inside. As I stood there with my face pressed to the window of the schoolhouse, memories flooded through me. First, memories of a scared little girl as she walked into a classroom on the first day of first grade and then memories of a smiling little girl as she met friends and fell in love with her teacher. The little girl was me and my first grade classroom looked much like this one. It was not a one-room schoolhouse nor did we have slates to write on. but my classroom did have desks, book shelves, and a world globe just like these. What really stirred my memories were the books scattered about. I remember some of these books like the one on the lower right desk, Someday Soon. I read that book. In fact, I have a copy of that book. Since I didn't go to kindergarten or day school, the first grade was where I learned to read. I still remember the excitement of learning to read simple words.

Run Spot.

Run, run, run.

Oh, oh, oh.

Funny, funny Spot.

In case you don't know, Spot was a dog belonging to Dick and Jane in a series of school readers. While there are many memories of my first grade, learning to read was the best!

* * * * *

I'm linking today with Scene & Story hosted

by Sarah and Lee.

Join us each month as we choose a photo and tell a story.

Bookshops, Vintage and Wacky

 The Bazaar Bookshop

In the mood for a good book? I know just the place to go, The Bazaar Bookshop which is a treasure trove of wacky books. As many of you know, I love to work jigsaw puzzles. This is my second puzzle of a bookshop. The first one was a vintage shop in an old Victorian home. As I worked it I thought about browsing through the packed shelves and smelling the old books, leather, and dust. I wondered what was in the other rooms and if that beautiful old staircase creaked.

Readers Paradise

Now, The Bazaar Bookshop it is another story! It's unusual to say the least! I'm sure you could find the perfect book here. Let's say you're looking for a book about the outdoors, gardening, or nature. You might check out Julius Freesia,  The Taming Of The Yew, or Peonies From Heaven.

Would you like a book about raising babies? Try A Pram For All Seasons, Three Men In a Cot, or The Valley Of The Bottles.

You might enjoy wandering through the ladies section; Withering Tights looks good or Much Ado About Knitting. There's cookbooks if you like to cook: War and Peas or Red Kales In The Sunset.

Let's move on to the section where we can find the classics: One Flew Over the Snooker Rest or Pot Black Beauty.

Section #27 might even interest Jerry who is not a reader! Who wouldn't want to read 20,000 Jeeps Under The Sea, A Room With a VW, Volvo In Paris, or Anthony and Carburetor? There's also a business section where you can find a copy of Lord Of The Files, Of Mice And Pen, and Seven Bribes For Seven Brothers.

If you're like Jerry and don't read much, you might like to spend time looking in between the books. There are new worlds hidden on the crowded shelves. 

There are more than a dozen trees, several people, various animals, at least three restaurants, an airplane, stairways, and a variety of other artifacts.

Did you enjoy spending a little time in the wacky bookstore with me? This was such a fun puzzle to work. It kept me smiling! I hope it made you smile, too!

Credits for this delightful puzzle go to:

The Bizarre Bookshop

Artwork by Colin Thompson

Ravensburger Puzzle

Beauty In The Small Things

The ordinary . . . the small . . . the insignificant  . . . they are important, too! Every day we see and touch things that we don't even give a second glance. Yet, when given attention, these small things are as important and beautiful as the large things that do catch our eyes. I spent some time this week seeing the ordinary and small in a new way.

Plain brown twine and a cute little pair of scissors please my eye.

I didn't know I had so many colors of straight pins.

My heart swoons when I find a vintage button.

Dinner's on. I see a few carrots in there.

An ordinary spoon on a piece of fabric make a pretty reflection.

Take a moment.

Pick up something ordinary.

Look at it closely.

See the beauty in the small things.

 * * * * *

I'm enjoying following the adventures in Kim Manley Ort's book Adventures In Seeing. This week we looked at small things and celebrated their beauty.

The First Sentence

The hardest sentence for me to write on my blog is the first one. The words that are chosen for the first sentence either hooks readers or looses them. They need to be unusual or unexpected or somehow arresting. I struggle with choosing the words for the first sentence. Sometimes the first sentence is the last one I write. I write it and write it and pretty much edit it to death! 

In thinking about opening sentences for my blog, I began to think about the opening sentences in books. If you had to chose a book by the opening sentence what would interest you? How about this one? "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." Would that draw you in? Evidently it's a good sentence. Thousands have read and enjoyed Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

Just for something fun to do, I randomly picked ten books from my bookshelf and from the library and made a list of first sentences.

1. Katherine was going to die.

2. I like to begin walks on the bridge at One Mile

3. Valen, Lord St. Evert, stood at the foot of his father's bed, clutching one of the massive posts.

4. I don't like to lose Eve.

5. The first thing Gwen Foster noticed was the man's angry scowl.

6. The air smelled of apples, and the orchard hummed with the sound of bees hovering over the bushels of harvested fruit.

7. July heat hung over the yard like a blanket.

8. Peter Matthew Morgan stood at the counter picking up his things.

9. You're looking very well, Mrs. Merritt.

10. A funeral always made for a bad day.

Which of these first sentences intrigues you enough to want to read the book? Choose one and then check the list below to find out which book it came from.

1.  The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah Ladd

2.  Poemcrazy by Susan G. Wooldridge

3. Cut From The Same Cloth by Kathleen Baldwin

4.  Night and Day by Iris Johansen

5.  Sunday Kind of Love by Dorothy Garlock

6.  The Apple Orchard by Susan Wiggs

7.  Comanche Magic by Catherine Anderson

8.  Ransom by Danielle Steel

9.  Exclusive by Sandra Brown

10. Falling Awake by Jayne Ann Krentz

There's a story about some of the books in the list. Mr. H found about four boxes of books that someone had dumped on a trail near our house. They were mostly in good shape, so I brought them home. There were several I knew I'd read. The rest were donated to the library's used book sale and the Salvation Army. I can't imagine why someone would just dump books. There are so many places to donate them! I was thankful that Mr. H. found them before it rained. Between those books and the library I haven't bought a book in a long time.

So, what do you look for when you choose a book to read; a pretty cover, a catchy title, a gripping summary, a well-known author, OR the first sentence? 

If you have a moment, write in the comment section which first sentence in my list intrigued you. If I were given the list and had to choose a book to read from it, I would chose #6, because I do love nature. It sounds like a good book to read with fall right around the corner. I haven't read it yet, but it's next in line. Right now I'm reading #5 Dorothy Garlock's Sunday Kind Of Love. I enjoy her books. She writes historical fiction which is my favorite. Her books are easy to read, have good dialog which is important to me, and characters that are real and developing. I think Dorothy Garlock describes her books very well, "I'm just a storyteller and like homey, down-to-earth characters, everyday people who have everyday problems and solve their problems with dignity. I'm not trying to give them a history lesson, I just want to entertain, if for a little while." I've read all of her books and what she says is true.

Happy Reading!

Just Wait ~ It Will Return

One morning in late July I woke up and couldn't blog anymore. I was empty. No photo excursions (it was too hot), no thoughts (my brain was exhausted), and no desire whatsoever to write (seemed like everything had been said).

Uncreative days are real. Most of you know exactly what I'm talking about. What do you do? You don't try to fight it. It won't do any good. You take a break. You wait for those creative days to return. I did just that. For the first time since I began my blog six years ago I took a month off. I didn't worry or fret during that month, because I knew the creative moments would return.

I still kept up with my 365 photography project and continued to write in my personal journal. I also did a lot of decluttering and found several long forgotten projects that I wanted to finish. I did finish one. I made a lap quilt. I spent time reading blogs, magazines, and a couple of photography books for inspiration. I jotted down quotes I could use, ideas for posts, and made notes of pictures that interested me.

I looked back over my posting history and realized that my posting had slowed down over the last year. I know the reasons; grief and more responsibilities. I'm finally feeling like my life is getting back together and in a rhythm.

I'm hoping that I can post more often. With cooler weather coming I can once again get out and wander. I've also been considering linking up with a group once a week. I've been looking at a couple that interest me. I like the challenge of link-ups and you meet other bloggers.

So, I'm back. Refreshed with ideas floating around in my head and camera ready. Even though it did me good, I missed this little corner, really missed it. It feels so good to be here typing these words and sharing my thoughts and images. Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm glad you're still here with me.

"One must also accept that one has 'uncreative' moments. The more honestly one can accept that, the quicker these moments will pass. One must have the courage to call a halt, to feel empty and discouraged."  ~ Etty Hillesum

Be Still 52 - Week 46

Letters and words

surround us, but finding just the 

right ones to add to photography can be a

little challenging.

It took me a few days to even know where to start. Of course, my childish heart soon solved that. My mind went to some vintage wooden blocks I have. "B" seemed a good one as I have several bears and books around my home. The book in the background is "First Lessons In Nature Study" written by Edith M. Patch in 1940.

While looking for the first book, I ran across this one. It reminded me of our family vacation last year. So, I visited the "sea."  The book, "We Visit The Seashore" has the most wonderful pop-up illustrations that are reproductions of antique pictures by Ernest Nister. Nister's book was published in the late 1800's.

I guess I had summer and the sea on my mind.  I cross stitched this small pillow several years ago. The boat, beach ball, castle, and lighthouse on the pillow represent the letters S-A-I-L. 

More and more as I go through this class I'm surprised at the many props that are right within my reach. I just have to stop and look around! One more thing, the boards that I used as the base in these photos were old pieces of a picket fence that someone dumped in the woods nearby. I will never understand why people choose the woods as a dumping ground, but this time someones trash was a treasure for me.

Be Still 52 - Week 44

Find an object and create five different still life images with it.  That was the exercise for this week's Be Still 52 class.  I had a list of objects that included a feather, spool of thread, ink well, books, lilacs, and a heart necklace, but I was stumped when it came to creating the five different set-ups. One set-up a week is hard for me. I finally settled on a skeleton key and went very simple. 

The Key To My Heart

 Vintage Keys

The Key To Learning

Key Collector

Music Is The Key

So, there you have it;

one key, five ways!

Be Still 52 - Week 43

In celebration of spring this week's exercise was pastels. I enjoy the softness of pastels, but I like brighter colors, so I had a hard time coming up with props and ideas. 

While thinking of pastels, I remembered that I have several of my grandmother's handkerchiefs which are soft pastel colors. It's sad we don't carry beautiful handkerchiefs in our pocketbooks anymore. We are missing out on such a pretty accessory. One St. Patrick's Day when I was six, my mother tucked a green handkerchief in the waistband of my skirt so I wouldn't get pinched for not wearing green. Anyway, my grandmother had such lovely feminine handkerchiefs and I'm so thankful I have a few.

One thing I have noticed about my still life photos is that like in nature, I want to get in close and see all the details; the textures of the bunnies and the edge of the hankie. I take pictures that give "room to breath," but I almost always choose the close up. I guess that's just part of my style.

I hope you're having a lovely spring!