Happy hunting

Daily Gratitude: Today I'm thankful for:

• I have sunshine inside of me today. They skies are grey, which usually sends me into a funk. However, I feel rested and fresh. I really love feeling good!
• Angels who watch over me, protecting me from evil plans and onslaughts of destruction. The stories they must tell when they check in with their peer angels! I am grateful for their willingness to go about the business of comforting and protection. 
• I have awesome neighbors. They are the perfect balance of honoring my privacy and extending generosity. How many people can say that? 

What do you hunt for? It's books for me! 

Earlier I shared my love of beautiful vintage books. It's true that they occupy a special place in my heart. Another aspect of collecting books is hunting for great used books. It's one of my favorite pastimes.

One of the best hunting grounds is the St. Vincent DePaul where my sister lives. Every visit to see Leslie includes a trip to St. Vinnie's. This Thanksgiving was no exception. I found three awesome books for $.50 each. SCORE!

Here are my finds:

The Flanders Panel by Arturo Perez-Reverte. I have several books by this Spanish author. His writing is smart and complex, just the way like I like my books. I just cracked opened this one and it hooked me immediately.

Here's a synopsis of the plot: A fifteenth-century painting by a Flemish master is about to be auctioned when Julia, a young art restorer, discovers a peculiar inscription hidden in a corner: Who killed the knight? In the painting, the Duke of Flanders and his knight are locked in a game of chess, and a dark lady lurks mysteriously in the background. Julia is determined to solve the five-hundred-year-old murder, but as she begins to look for clues, several of her friends in the art world are brutally murdered in quick succession. Messages left with the bodies suggest a crucial connection between the chess game in the painting, the knight's murder, the sordid underside of the contemporary art world, and the latest deaths. Just when all of the players in the mystery seem to be pawns themselves, events race toward a shocking conclusion. A thriller like no other, The Flanders Panel presents a tantalizing puzzle for any connoisseur of mystery, chess, art, and history.

I'm a Stranger Here Myself by Ogden Nash. Witty twists of words that make light of things pompous and inhuman. Love that his poetry reflects his heart for the glories of the mundane.

Here's a good one:

What Almost Every Woman Knows Sooner Or Later

Husbands are things that wives have to get used to putting up with.
And with whom they breakfast with and sup with.
They interfere with the discipline of nurseries,
And forget anniversaries,
And when they have been particularly remiss
They think they can cure everything with a great big kiss,
And when you tell them about something awful they have done they just
look unbearably patient and smile a superior smile,
And think, Oh she'll get over it after a while.
And they always drink cocktails faster than they can assimilate them,
And if you look in their direction they act as if they were martyrs and
you were trying to sacrifice, or immolate them,
And when it's a question of walking five miles to play golf they are very
energetic but if it's doing anything useful around the house they are
very lethargic,
And then they tell you that women are unreasonable and don't know
anything about logic,
And they never want to get up or go to bed at the same time as you do,
And when you perform some simple common or garden rite like putting
cold cream on your face or applying a touch of lipstick they seem to
think that you are up to some kind of black magic like a priestess of Voodoo.
And they are brave and calm and cool and collected about the ailments
of the person they have promised to honor and cherish,
But the minute they get a sniffle or a stomachache of their own, why
you'd think they were about to perish,
And when you are alone with them they ignore all the minor courtesies
and as for airs and graces, they uttlerly lack them,
But when there are a lot of people around they hand you so many chairs
and ashtrays and sandwiches and butter you with such bowings and
scrapings that you want to smack them.
Husbands are indeed an irritating form of life,
And yet through some quirk of Providence most of them are really very
deeply ensconced in the affection of their wife.

Ogden Nash

The Elegant Universe by Brian Green. Always want to know more about superstrings and hidden dimensions. This national bestseller has my attention! Haven't jumped into it yet, but am anticipating it with relish. 

Here's why: Beginning with a brief consideration of classical physics, which concentrates on the major conflicts in physics, Greene establishes a historical context for string theory as a necessary means of integrating the probabilistic world of the standard model of particle physics and the deterministic Newtonian physics of the macroscopic world. Greene discusses the essential problem facing modern physics: unification of Albert Einstein's theory of General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. Greene suggests that string theory is the solution to these two conflicting approaches. Greene frequently uses analogies and thought experiments to provide a means for the layman to come to terms with the theory which has the potential to create a unified theory of physics.

Ok ok, I know it's a bit heady, but how cool?!

Anyway, just love hunting for a good book...or two. It's one of my favorite things, right up there with actually reading them! 

Making room for good things

Daily Gratitude 

I'm shining today because I'm thankful for:

• Sunshine somewhere. Even though I haven't seen it for days, I know the sun is shining bright and beautiful on other worthy people. I sure wish it would come back to my home.
• The shoulder of a friend. It's so nice being able to lay down one's burdens, even if it's just for a few moments.
• Coffee with my girlfriends. I have to say, getting caffeinated with my friends is very satisfying! 

Times, they are a changin'

My friend Bob calls me every so often. He's been checking on me since we were in college. Dare I say that's been over 30 years now?! I've missed his last few attempts to reach me. I'll see his number on my phone and sigh that we didn't get to talk. Then, I smile and think to myself what a treat it is to know I'm on his mind.

Bob is a pastor of rare perspective. He's tends his extended church flock (which includes me, even though I haven't officially been a member of any church for almost as many years as I've known him) with love and humor. He's got the "love your neighbor as thyself" thing nailed. It's a beautiful and amazing quality.

Yesterday he called and I had tons of time to visit. He asked after the kids and filled me in on his crazy world. He wanted an update from me. I hesitated. Did he really want to hear my stuff? I reasoned after all of these years he's proved a genuine interest. Most of the time I've shared only happy, good things. But, true friends are willing to see you when you have bedhead and bad breath. So, I laid it on him. 

I told him that over the last few months (well, years) I've eliminated a lot of things from my life. The job that wasn't working for me (it was literally making me crazy, this is no lie!), the marriage that wasn't really a marriage, people that said they were friends, and a lot more. He agreed that this was good stuff to discard. Yet, in the elimination, like with diarrhea, a lot of good things went out with the bad. Some of the things that went were the stimuli of conversing and working with others, the need for analysis and problem-solving, an intimate relationship, and...money!

Telling him that I've got myself in a snug space that I'm having a difficult time getting out of was liberating. He was glad to learn that I'm ready to add back some of the good things that went with the bad. And, what was lovely, was he just listened. When I was done he asked if I would like to hear his thoughts on the matter. Wasn't that nice? He asked. So many people have an opinion, usually something judgmental or what would work for them, and they're more than willing to give it to you without really considering if you want or need it.

Interestingly, he didn't give me a rehashing of tired and worn out advise. Rather, he offered to give me a break. A real break. A trip to a warm place free of charge. Plane ticket and room included. Wow! I don't know that we'll be able to work out the details. But, it doesn't matter. His opinion was just to give me a gift. It makes my heart hurt from such a lovely gesture. In his wisdom he believed that I needed new air to breathe and an opportunity to consider the spaces the have been created by eliminating junk.

Let's see if we can make it happen. I sure hope so! God bless Bob for not only being there all of these years, but helping me without judgement to embrace those empty spaces, which are only...

Making room for good things!

My books are my friends

Daily Gratitude

I'm shining today because I'm grateful for:

• God's correction. King David said he was glad for His correction, and I used to not understand that. Yet, as I get older I realize that God's correction keeps us true, honest, and loving to others. It's way better than His discipline!
• Fall and winter merging. This morning the fall leaves are covered with a light layer of white powder. It's beautiful.
• When I think of the thousands of people on the east coast that are displaced, cold, and frustrated, I am all the more thankful for my warm home and cozy bed. Truly, I am blessed!

I have a few books

Well, maybe more than a few.

While I've been a voracious reader since I was a child, it wasn't until I was a young adult that I began to appreciate the beauty of books published around the turn of the last century. Since then I have gathered many lovely volumes.

I love these beautiful stories and the works of art that cover them. Most are bound in decorated fabric, some are actually tooled leather. Not all of them are in perfect shape, but I marvel at how well preserved they are for being well over 100 years old.

Here's a beautiful edition of the Chautauqua Girls at Home that was given to a young woman named Lou Taylor. Her aunt Avery gave it to her as a Christmas gift in 1897. The cloth cover is worn just a bit, otherwise it's in wonderful condition.

Isn't this one a hoot? Wanted- A Matchmaker. A holiday story about wanting a husband! This edition features a beautiful Armstrong design on the boards and every page is illustrated with a lavish boarder. 

Chattie B. Cahill inscribed this lovely edition of Uncle Tom's Cabin in February of 1900. I have 20 or so books that were Ms. Cahill's. She had wonderful taste in her reading material. Unfortunately, I've been unable to locate information about this specific printing.

Many years back, my father and I were roaming the hills of the Palouse when we can upon an estate sale at an old farm. Dad found several treasures. And, so did I - this collection of Tom Swift adventure books.

Finding a complete collection that's in good condition is like hitting the mother lode! This set of Master Pieces of Fiction was a great score from my friend's salvage shop. The set was published in 1904 and included everyone from Charles Dickens to Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe, Rudyard Kipling, Boccaccio, George Eliot, Emile Zola, and more. I wonder is she realized what she had!

My step-mom gave me a box full of these funny, yet delightful pulp fiction books from the 1930's, 40's and 50's. They are pretty tame compared to the romance novels of today, but in their time they were quite racy. I especially like the one titled "Professional Lover."

Books are tucked around in nooks and crannies in my home. Here, a random collection of beautifully dressed friends, I mean books, sits on the mantle of my fireplace. I just love the colors!

Some of my book-friends are ornate and beautiful. Others are hearty and well-worn. All are a delight in some way. There are days that I will deliberately visit my books. I grab a cup of coffee and walk from room to room to remember them. It's a pleasurable exercise. I touch the covers, running my fingers over the embossed designs. The wonderful smell that comes from opening the pages often compels me to stop to read a page or two. Not every book has in inscription. When I find one, it's like connecting with the previous owner. I like to think of them lovingly penning their name, noting the town where they lived, and "stamping" the date that they came to possess the volume. 

I wonder if Cleopatra felt that way about the papyrus scrolls in the Royal Library of Alexandra. I do believe Caesar's accidental burning of the world's largest and most significant library would have been a real deal breaker for me!  And, surely Queen Elizabeth treasured the many volumes of classical works and Psalms she had translated and ornately bound. As well as her copies of the works of Shakespeare, Spenser, Sir Philip Sidney, and Christopher Marlowe.

It would be a tedious undertaking to look at all of my old books today. I just wanted to talk about a few of them, because they bring me such joy. And, I wanted you to know that...

My books are my friends. 

(P.S. See my Pinterest board where I pin loads of cool books - Books are my friends)

Have I told you how much I love my bed?

Daily Gratitude

I'm shining today because I'm grateful for:

• An extra hour of daylight. Yay, Daylight Savings ended!
• The Aveda Body Balancing Mist sitting next to my computer. It's made of organic lavender, balsam, and lemon oils. I love how it lifts my mood and makes me feel well balanced.
• Pinterest. I think... I am a bit addicted. It's sure fun! 

Oh... I love my bed

At the top of my gratitude list I often state that I'm grateful for a restful night's sleep. For the most part, I am blessed with a good seven to eight hours a night. I wake in the morning ready for the day. I like to think it's mostly due to the fact that I "know" I'm going to have that kind of rest. Or, it could be because of my bed.

There are a few beds in my house. I've slept in them all, you know, just to see what they're like. This one I love dearly. It was my great-grandpa's bed.

Grandpa's bed sits in my loft where it shares space with my library and office. Waking in the morning, one can look around and see a few hundred books colored with light from a stained glass window. Sally cat has claimed this bed as hers. I like this bed.

There is another bed in the house. This one is in my piano room. I took the head- and foot-boards off because the room is so small. 

The bed has a cozy down comforter and the pillows are amazing. Topping the bed is an afgan my grandma crocheted me when I graduated from high school. Sleeping in this room is a colorful treat. The walls are pumpkin and terra cotta, which are offset by touches of teal and aqua. The piano parallels the bed and makes for a rich, earthy feel. I like this bed. 

But...

This is the bed that I love. At the end of the day I pull back the covers and get into this bed. The other beds are great. The rooms they're in are decorated and rather feminine. Funny, mine isn't. I mean, my room is decorated, but it's rather simple. Just a great big (huge!) Mission-style dresser with a mirror, a bed-side table, and... my bed. 

I'm not sure what I do at night, but every morning the pillows are pushed up and I wake with my head cradled. Ahhhhh. It's pure heaven.

My bedding is simple, too. Just layers of aqua, covered with a teal bed spread. And, yes, I'm a bed-maker. First thing I roll out of bed and pull the covers into place. Simple, nothing fussy or ornate. Just covers and a couple of pillows. 

Shades of green, brown, and teal comfort me, they surround me every morning when I wake and each night when I crawl in. In this wonderful, cozy place, I dream and rest and dream and dream. It's one of my very favorite places. Those who know me are getting used to my asking...

Have I Told You How Much I Love My Bed? 

Today I asked for Grace

Daily Gratitude

I'm shining today because I'm grateful for:

• A sweet, mild morning. On a day that promises grey skies, I loved a deep intake of the fresh and lovely air that filled my body with hope and new beginnings.
• Clarity. When insight slams through fuzzy thoughts, it's like a bolt of lightening. I love it!
• Nice people who have to do a difficult job. Getting "bad" information from someone who is kind makes a big difference. 

Today I asked for Grace 

So much to do, so many things coming at me today! I actually love an extra measure of external stimuli. Yet, I've observed that with this flurry often comes the not-so-awesome things like strange encounters, not so welcomed phone calls, over due bills, and such. I can be irritated or I move from a place of peace...

Today I asked for Grace

I want feel like I'm in an Italian movie

Daily Gratitude

I'm shining today because I'm grateful for:

• The treasure of being loved. I have wealth beyond measure when I examine the richness of my friendships. Truly, there's nothing more precious than being cared for by the people in my life.
• Generous gestures. Today I was treated to a wonderful woman's networking luncheon, then to a great cup of coffee in a really cool place. Nice!
• Prep time to do His plan. God doesn't just push us out into a situation without giving us time to get ready. I appreciate the training and preparation process.

On Grey Days Like Today...

This foggy, chilly time of year makes me want to snuggle in with a cozy blanket, a rich cup of robust coffee, and a few biscotti. Escaping to Italy is on the agenda by way of a great chick flick set in bright, sunny Tuscany, Liguria, Campania, or Veneto. Here are a few I fall into every year at this time.

I want to feel like I'm in an Italian movie

or, Per il vostro divertimento!

Bread and Tulips or Pane e tulipani 

This award-winning romance comedy film was directed by Silvio Soldini, and stars Licia Maglietta and Bruno Ganz. The story is about an Italian housewife who finds herself stranded during a family vacation. Instead of waiting for her controlling businessman husband, she hitchhikes her way home, only to impulsively detour to Venice. There she finds accommodations with a restaurant maitre d' and soon finds herself enjoying her a life.

I love this movie because it's quirky and so different. Yet, the yearning to live one's own life, fulfilling secret dreams transcends cultures. Most any woman who has a husband and children to tend can escape in this story, even if it's just for an hour or so.

Enchanted April

This film is an adaptation of Elizabeth von Arnim's 1922 novel, The Enchanted April. It was directed by Mike Newell, and stars Alfred Molina, Joan Plowright and Miranda Richardson. In the story four dissimilar women in 1920s England leave their damp and rainy environs to go on a holiday to a secluded coastal castle in Italy. The women come together at a castle and find rejuvenation in the tranquil beauty of their surroundings, rediscovering hope and love. The film was shot on location at Castello Brown in Portofino, Italy. This same castle was where the author of the book stayed in the 1920s.

Oh, to spend a month or two in an Italian castle! The wisteria and sunshine speak to my heart, as do the friendships that form between these women and the men they love. I never tire of this little gem.

Italian for Beginners or Italiensk for begyndere 

This film is a 2000 Danish romantic comedy film written and directed by Lone Scherfig. The film stars Anders W. Berthelsen, Lars Kaalund and Peter Gantzler. Here we see Italy through the eyes of three Danish women as they meet for Italian lessons at the local community center. The class serves as a way of bringing various residents of the town together, each of whom is dealing with loss or pain, out of their loneliness and into interactions with other people. It's a film about fulfilling dreams.

Want to change everything you know about love? This movie is funny, spontaneous, heart-warming, and touching. It makes me laugh and feel good!

Under the Tuscan Sun

Under the Tuscan Sun is a romantic comedy drama film written, produced, and directed by Audrey Wells and starring Diane Lane. The film, set in Cortona between Tuscany and Umbria, is about a recently-divorced writer who buys a villa in Tuscany on a whim, hoping it will lead to a change in her life.

This one is my very most favorite. I have seen it at least ten times, maybe more. Can you say sunflowers, wine, love, and transformation?

Letters to Juliet

This is an American romantic drama film starring Amanda Seyfried, Chris Egan, and Vanessa Redgrave. The story is about a young American woman who travels to the city of Verona, home of the star-crossed lover Juliet Capulet. She joins the "Secretaries of Juliet" who respond to letters to Juliet seeking advice about love. After answering one letter dated from 1957, she inspires its author to travel to Italy in search of her long-lost love.

Long lost love served up with wine, rolling hills, and letters. More, please!

The English Patient 

This movie is a romantic drama film written for the screen and directed by Anthony Minghella. It won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Staring Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche and Kristin Scott Thomas, the story is about a doomed and tragic romance set against the backdrop of World War II. In a field hospital in Italy, a nurse from Canada, is caring for a pilot who was horribly burned in a plane wreck; he has no identification and cannot remember his name, so he's known simply as "the English Patient," thanks to his accent.

Get comfortable and settle in, this one is long and winding. The lush and complex plot is worth every minute.

Yes, this grey time of year, when I'm missing sunshine and warm breezes, I pull out the movies and say, 

I just wanna feel like I'm in an Italian movie! 

After the company's gone

Daily Gratitude

I'm shining today because I'm grateful for:

• Hot showers. This morning I luxuriated in the steamy streams, cleansing my head of troubles. I emerged warm, smelling good, and peaceful.
• Routine. I know, most of you can't believe this! However, there are things I count on to keep me sane. These routines are the foundation of the awesomeness that happens during the day.
• Quiet days like today. 

My Friends Were Here

The morning after is good. I'm reminded of this when I stumble into the kitchen to make my blessed pot of coffee and see dishes from an evening of fun. 

No matter that the stove is grimy...

That remnants of enjoyment are still out....

Or that bits of garbage need clearing....

Who cares that soaking pots and pans now need attention...

And, that random dishes need to be cleared.

As I happily return my kitchen to it's neat and tidy standard, I think about my friends and how they color my life. Laughter. Creative food. Great wine. Stimulating conversation. All let me know I am blessed and loved. This is the joy that remains....

After the company's gone.