Ah, lazy days. Days when we allow ourselves to let go and do nothing, or do just those things we want to do. Lazy days for this girl include lots of reading. I’ve been catching up on Design Sponge, a website I love but which had somehow slipped under the radar for me lately. I’ve also been reading books for purely selfish reasons. I do a lot of reading for book reviews, both on this blog and on Just Let Me Finish This Page. But I’m allowing myself to take a mini vacation from schedules and deadlines. I’ve pulled out a few books by my new find, John Connolly, and I’m thoroughly enjoying them. I’m just about to finish The White Road. Next up, one of the books by Connolly that I checked out of my local library.
Do you know that I still haven’t read Louise Penny’s latest? I’ve been hoarding it for a time when I have a large pocket of free time in which to lose myself in her words. And maybe I’m also hanging onto it because I know that once I’m finished with it, that’s it until the next one comes out. Silly, maybe, but books are a true, deep, visceral pleasure for me, so it’s not unlike putting aside the last piece of pie or yummy chocolate truffle for later. I know it’s out there. I know that I can dive in whenever I want to, but I opt for delayed gratification.
When Don and I were taking a little drive last week, we found a little antique shop and stopped in. The owner was an elderly man, tall and slim, with a thick head of white hair. I think he spends a lot of time alone in the shop because he was very happy to chat with us and he told us of his interesting life, a life where he worked in a wide variety of jobs, with lots of interesting people. I found him charming. While I was taking it all in, I saw a pair of Scottie bookends, probably from the late forties to early fifties. (I have a renewed interest in bookends because of our new bookshelves in the den.) I thought of my blogging friend Becky, who has all sorts of Scottie collectibles and who has her very own real-life Scottie, Duhgall. Becky, I think you’d like these.
They came home with me.
Gosh, I love them.
The other one is propping up Michael Connelly. I wonder if he likes Scottie dogs?
In the driving the car department, Don went out yesterday and loaded up all the recyclables to take to our town dump. The car wouldn’t start. Nor would the hood open. It sounded like a dead battery to me. We called our insurance company road service for a jump, but realized that if we couldn’t get the hood open, the car would have to be towed. Luckily, Don’s friend, who is a truck driver, talked us through a way of getting the catch to release. Whew! The tow truck driver came, jumped the battery, and Don drove to our local guy’s station, where the battery was replaced.
If it had to happen, it couldn’t have happened at a better time. We were both home, it was early afternoon and sunny, neither of us was stranded somewhere with a dead battery. As car problems go, this was a minor one.
Yesterday’s sunset for your viewing pleasure:
Happy Sunday.
Good Morning Claudia. In our paper this morning is a article about the 10 best stage productions and Hamlet is number 2! Congratulations to you and the producer. I loved your bag yesterday. Have a great day. Doris
Thank you, Doris. I saw that article because one of the actors linked up to it on Facebook. Don’s production of Our Town also got an honorable mention. We are well represented in Connecticut this year!
Claudia, I should tell you the article was in the Hartford Courant. Doris
xo
I had a Scottie when I was a child. He was my first dog, at age 3, and I loved him. His name was Spade. I went on to have a Wire Fox Terrier and then a Miniature Poodle, and many years later I got my first Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. Just my long way of saying I love Scotties, and think Scottie owners are lucky, because there are so many adorable vintage collectibles. Your bookends are fabulous!
I know, they are lucky, aren’t they? Somehow Scottie dogs lend themselves to decor and, of course, the craze started with FDR’s dog, so I guess we have him to thank!
Lazy, leisurely days. My favorite. One more week of winter break and then we’ll be back at school. Boo! January 4th … the very day my college boy arrives from the States and also my husband’s birthday. I bought many books and magazines while on our Christmas trip to Dubai. Censorship in this country means that we have to go elsewhere to find anything interesting. Love those Scottie dog bookends. Have a wonderful day. Tammy
So glad you were able to stock up on reading material, Tammy! It must be such a wonderful blessing when you can get to Dubai to do that.
Love the bookends, Claudia. Off to check out Design Sponge and Louise Penny!
Have fun, Sue!
There’s nothing like a good sunset….’cept for maybe a great sunrise! The nice thing about open bookshelves is you can more easily view a great pair of bookends, supporting great books! Great find…interesting shopkeeper! Enjoy your day! ;)
Exactly. It forces me to scout out bookends! Such fun!
Please read Louise Penny’s latest. I so want to hear what you think. How I love that woman’s mind and your take on authors we both read. Happy New Year from Texas!
I don’t know when I’ll have the time! I have to finish these two library books and then my review commitments start up again! I’ll try!
I like your bookends. We have a small Scottie dog ornament on our Christmas tree as a nod to Mrs. S., my daughter’s first-grade teacher. I was called into school the first week of grade one and taken severely to task as “someone has taught this child to read”. Apparently my daughter had remarked that the first-grade primer was very nice, but please could they discuss Christian symbolism in the Tales of Narnia series. Oops. My daughter spent the remainder of the year as a “guest” in the grade six class where she discovered the delights of Jules Verne.
Needless to say, we too are spending our few days off catching up with personal reading. One of my Christmas gifts was a biography of Alan Turing as I am fascinated by the code-breakers of WWII (I love the Sunday cryptic crossword). We went to see “The Imitation Game” last night. I think the film has a few inaccuracies, but his story is so heart-breaking, I urge you and Don to see it if you have chance.
One of my other gifts was a small Keurig coffee machine. I’m the only coffee drinker in our house, so it made sense. I love it! (My daughter remarked that I’m behaving like a child with a vending machine.) It’s bitterly cold today, so I think I’ll just have to make that second cup and settle down with Mr. Turing for the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!
I am familiar with Turing’s story and the heartbreak of it, as well. But I know there’s lots I don’t know about him. I do want to see the movie and I’m a big fan of Benedict Cumberbatch, so I’m sure we’ll see it soon!
You sound so relaxed and that is such a good thing. Love the bookends. I’m a fan of bookends anyway! I’m almost finished with ‘The Burning Room’ and enjoying it very much. Next up are a couple of books I checked out from the library that were on my hold list. Nice to have some good books to read this time of year.
hugs,
Linda
I’m feeling fairly relaxed. That’s a nice feeling!
So I am reading along, clicked over to Design Sponge (made a mental note to go back to read when I am done remodeling the house) and was loving the story about your visit to the antique store. The owner sounds like a delightful person. And then, there is my name. *chuckle* YES! I love your bookends! I actually have one like it (just one) for sale in my space at the antique store. But after seeing yours, I think I should bring it home. Thank you for the shout out for Duhgall….* insert smile here *
Enjoy your weekend. It sounds like a perfectly lovely one.
hugs,
Becky
Oh, bring it home, Becky! It needs to be in your beautiful home! I cannot help it – I think of you every time I see something Scottie. Give Duhgall a kiss from me!
The bookends are absolutely perfect! I’m so glad your car problem was a “best case scenario” kind. Car problems are something that can TOTALLY. STRESS. ME. OUT!
So glad you’re having some “do nothing, do what I want” kind of days. We all need to give ourselves permission to enjoy days like that more often!
I didn’t get to respond yesterday, but wanted to tell you how much I like your new bag.
Thank you, Debbie. I really love that bag!
Car problems are scary, for sure. For some reason, Don and I stayed pretty calm about yesterday’s problem, though I worried that it could also be the starter. Thank goodness, it wasn’t!
The Scotties are very nice..glad the car was an easy fix..I am being a bit too lazy since Christmas is over..need to get off my butt and do some things..lol..
I’m sitting on my butt today. Blogging, surfing, and reading. And eating.
xo
Oh, it’s always fun to stumble on a new antique spot – sounds like you have someplace to visit now that your friend closed her shop earlier this year. And how nice that you and Don stayed around to listen to the owner’s stories. I’ll bet it was a real treat for him to have someone to tell them to. How many other people just hustle themselves through, with no time to listen? IMO, you guys earned some points in Heaven for that. PS – love the little Scottie bookends. Enjoy your “lazy” reading day… :>)
He was a nice guy – with an Irishman’s gift for storytelling. And he has had a very interesting life!
Your book ends are a great little find. And years from now you will probably remember that gentleman that sold them to you when you look at them.
Absolutely. I love things that tell a story and he will be part of the story.
I enjoyed your story of the antique shop, I love stumbling upon treasures like that. And the owner brought to mind my husband, Steve spent many an hour chatting with owners while I shopped. He was such a people person, especially older ones, he loved their stories. Thanks for evoking good memories for me today. Oh, I’m happy your car problem was easily resolved! Hedy
I’m glad this story brought forth a good memory for you, dear Hedy. My husband is much the same as yours was – friendly and kind. Two very good men.
Merry Christmas to you, Claudia, albeit a few days after!
I love your cute bookends. Scotties are a personal favorite of ours, both in the flesh and in decor. You are going to enjoy those so much. I also love that you made that gentleman’s day by visiting his shop. ‘Tis the season to spread goodwill, and the gift of time is so important to share.
Wishing you, Don, and Scout the very best of the season and all the love your hearts can hold.
xo,
Sheila
Thank you, Sheila. Everyone wants to be heard, listened to. It’s important. He is a lovely guy.
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Brian’s had the weekend off (which is rare) and we didn’t have any plans either. We’ve been mostly lazy, but somewhat productive in that we got all the Christmas stuff taken down and put away already. We did go out today to see the movie, Unbroken which was fabulous. I started getting a sore throat now, so I’m a wee bit crabby and don’t feel like doing anything. I just read a bunch of blogs and now I’m going to read. I need to catch up with Design Sponge, too. One of my favorite decorating blogs. I also like Apartment Therapy.
Hi Claudia, One of the first things I want to do after the first of the year just for me is to spend some time at our local antique stores. It’s been awhile since I took the time to do this and I so enjoy it. Love your new bookends! We had to replace the battery in my car on Friday. It wasn’t completely dead but was very hesitant at starting this past week. When they tested it, the mechanic said he couldn’t believe it was even starting. It registered dead! I was a lucky girl.
Blessings,
Betsy
You are a much better person than I am. I have to devour a new Louise Penny book as soon as it comes out and then mourn for a year for the next one. Thank goodness she is into the second draft of the next one. I have some car repairs to face when I get home. Not looking forward to it. Love the bookends, xo Laura
So, Santa brought you a new battery for Christmas!! It does seem that the timing was pretty good…Enjoy the last few days of 2015.