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Tall, skinny bookcase

My parents had this bookcase in their place before they both passed.  I always loved it so, in spite of the sadness of them being gone, I was happy to get it.  

I have way to many books right now because I belong to a bookgroup that meets once a month and many of the books were obtained through used book sites and they only cost a few dollars.  I don't purchase every book we read, just the ones I think I'll want to keep.  Sadly, I keep too many of them, but I love to read and I often read a favorite book several times.  

I need to STOP buying books.  There is, after all, a library in town.  We'll see how that goes.

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Encyclopedia Books

A pile of encyclopedia books seen in an antique store in a small town in Texas.

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Curio shelves in an Antique Store

Curio shelves in an antique store in a small town in Texas.

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Bookstore Graffiti

In downtown Abilene, there's a bookstore. Along the side of the building in the alleyway, there's an exit door.  On the wall outside the door is this graffiti.  

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Monk's Fireplace

My fave coffee shop just underwent a slight remodel.  These flames were painted in the fireplace.  The photo was originally in color, but I tried it in bw and I liked it, so there you go.

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Abandoned School Library

Today is Feb 1 and I've managed to post a photo a day for the full month of January.

Now I just have to be as dedicated for the month of February.

This appears to be the library of the abandoned school building in Putnam, Texas.  

It almost seems that one day the kids were in school in this building and the next day they were elsewhere.  

I wish I could find the back-story about this place.

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Books by Craig Johnson

The Longmire Series

While at my daughter's this morning for breakfast and presents, she received a couple more volumes in the series of "Longmire" books from her husband.  

That's one of my favorite series on PRIME, and she's mentioned the books to me before, but I never pursued reading them.  Today I finally asked her if I could borrow a couple to start the series~~these are the first two of the long, long series.  

I hope I like them as much as she does.  

Robert Taylor is the actor who plays Longmire on the TV series.  He's Australian.  One time I heard an interview he did and I couldn't believe the THICK Australian accent he has.  You'd never know it from the show. Maybe I'll have to start the TV series over again.

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Books

I've loved to read since I was old enough to read.  Seems like I always have more than one book going, but lately I've been holding back.  I belong to a bookgroup and we read one book a month.  

Sometimes I start another one.  But right now I have three that I'm interested in reading.

The top one, "The Dictionary of Lost Words" is the bookgroup read.

"The Defiant Brides" is historical and I'm struggling to get into it, but I'll persevere a little longer and see how it goes.  It was a birthday gift from a casual friend so I think I need to make an honest effort to read it.

The bottom one, "Perceptions of a Renegade Mind" is one I read before.  It was amazing.

I think David Icke is my new favorite author.

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BOOKS    

There's a fairly new bookstore in downtown Abilene and the pillar in front of of the glass storefront has this word on it.  With this advertising, it's difficult to miss the fact that they sell books.

They have other activities there too:  book readings, book groups, probably book signings and I think they offer opportunities for small gatherings like showers.

There's a little nook inside where there's a desk with a retro typewriter and blank postcards.  You purchase the postcard and then get the chance to type your message using the typewriter.  How awesome is that!!

I'm thankful for:

pleasant history

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Classic Books

These books are in my personal library.  I've read them all and I love them all.

Anna Karenina was a tough one.  I read it years ago, but recently someone in my book group picked it and she suggested we do it as a two-part series.  Everyone agreed. So we had a discussion of the first part one month, then the second part was the following month.  That worked out pretty well and

everyone liked it.

If there's one in this group you haven't read, I recommend that you read it soon.

Just my opinion.

My heart is grateful for:

good literature and even not-so-good literature at times

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Lending Library

A small lending library in a local coffee shop.  What a great idea!  And I just love those plants.

Today I'm grateful for:

A potential photo job in the near future

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Decor

I was visiting a photographer friend of mine in his studio today.  He has several of these camera statues scattered around and then I saw these mini-albums that he offers his clients.

I did a little reorganization and voila.

My heart is grateful today for:

the smiles and laughter my "group" shared around the table after our

exercise class this morning

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Still Life

A couple of years ago I tried my hand at still life with the few items I had around my house, which wasn't much since I had just moved into a smaller space and had seriously purged my belongings. 

It was fun, it gave me something to do and I learned a little more about lighting.

I'm grateful today for:

my sewing machine

Books

This image was inspired by a photo that I took when I was in Camden, Maine this past Sept. The library is surrounded by beautiful "grounds"--landscaped and decorated in the most appealing and friendly way. There were benches outside one of the doors that looked like bookcases. See the second image below.

I love books. I've always been addicted to them, but lately I'm learning NOT to buy every single one that I lay my hands on. "Go to the library" resounds in my head every time I think about buying another volume. Not that I don't ever buy books, but at this point in my life, I'm trying to minimize my possessions, not increase them.

So, over the years, I've culled and gotten rid of, and thought about culling some more. The ones that I still have are ones that I think I'll read again, hmmmm, or will want to loan to other people, hmmmm. Neither of those usually happen, so soon I'll go on another cleaning spree and will condense even more.

I consider books to be another blessing in my life. They offer comfort, escape, knowledge, laughter, tears, and as I mentioned in a previous post, they created many bonding opportunities for me and my children. They continue to do so now, as I talk with friends about different books we've read and how we feel about each one. For the past 24 years I've belonged to a book group and have had the opportunity to read many books I normally wouldn't have chosen myself.

I guess I can't talk about books without mentioning the best one, the Bible. The Greatest Story Ever Told. Read it, you'll like it.