Excuse me while I shake off the world of Three Pines and do my best to re-emerge into the world of blogging.
I just finished The Nature of the Beast and I am stunned by how good it is. Louise Penny is brilliant. I’ll write a review tomorrow for Just Let Me Finish This Page, but I need to let it percolate a bit in my brain before I put my feelings into words.
Oh my goodness.
I finished it this morning in the lamplit den. The sun had yet to make its presence known. A shawl around my shoulders, coffee mug in hand, I couldn’t do anything but read straight through to the end.
And now, I have to wait a year for another Three Pines mystery. I feel Penny is at her best when the action takes place in and around Three Pines. Last year’s book, The Long Way Home, took place elsewhere and, though good, I thought it lost its way.
This has been a week for excellent reads: Jan Karon’s Come Rain or Come Shine, and Penny’s The Nature of the Beast. How can I keep from smiling at the sheer pleasure of being allowed to read their words?
Don: Do Not Read Any Further!!
I did a little work on the Top Secret Project yesterday. Excuse the darkish photo, but I took it late yesterday afternoon.
I finished painting the walls. No wallpaper this time. I envision this as a bright, sunny space. So I used Wicker White by Folk Art. After trying a brush for a couple of coats, I bought a foam roller. Much better! I have to do some patching and spackling, but I’ll get to that later.
That flooring is Random Plank Flooring made of wood veneer. No popsicle stick flooring this time. Now I’m trying to decide whether I should use it ‘as is’ in this lighter color, or whether I should stain it a darker color. I have some stain left over from the bookshelves in the den.
Hmmm.
Then I’ll add the baseboard. Wish me luck, I’m going to be making some mitered cuts.
This project is going to take longer than I had planned. Budget is a big issue. I can only do so much at a time. Yesterday, I made a list of the items I would like to see in the room. Some of them will have to be handmade. Some of them I will buy.
In either case, it will take time.
Happy Thursday.
Wow Claudia, I can’t believe how fast you can read a book! I am on my 4th day of the Girl on the Train. I hope to finish it today. TSP is looking good. I like the light floors, airy and bright. I am glad you kept the chair! Have a good day. Doris
Doris, Let me know what you think of Girl on the Train. I’ve been on the fence as to whether I should read it.
Isn’t it wonderful when a book is all absorbing. I was waiting (and reading) in the departure lounge at the airport recently and was mortified to hear my name being paged as a last call to board. Needless to say it was a very good book.
The TSP is looking good! Where did you find the flooring?
I found it at HBS/miniatures.com, Barbara.
I read The Nature of the Beast -twice- in 4 days. Love her books. And I do agree the two books set away from the village weren’t as good as the ones set in Three Pines. That said, I read those twice too. Real books too not electronic.
Yes, my Louise Pennys are always three dimensional.
Wow…you finished that quickly! I still haven’t read The Long Way Home…I’m definitely behind…at least I have something to look forward to! TSP coming along nicely! The flooring is nice and light…getting anxious to see more! ;)
Couldn’t put it down, Donnamae. It’s that good.
I am reading Nature of Beast now. I love every word! I always want to read slowly so it will last, but can’t put it down. Today, I will get Come Rain or Come Shine. Love both these authors and the communities they write about. Diane
Me too. I hated to see it end!
You keep recommending more books and I keep adding those books to my reading schedule. Love it! Have fun with your dollhouse.
Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
I will, Susan. I have to play with the floor today!
I am intrigued by your book. I will have to go look it up and see if it requires reading the other books in the series first. Always love book recommendations. and I love secret projects hehe.
I think you can read it as a stand alone, but reading the series in order is the best idea because each character grows and progresses and changes throughout the series.
Love seeing the progress on the Top Secret project. I’m leaning toward you staining the floor unless you think the dark color will diminish the items for the room, like swallow them up depending upon their own colors. Of course, that has its own challenges because you don’t have a lot of them bought yet, although you’ve probably got most of them in your mind already. I’ve seen, for instance, largely white kitchens with a dark floor and it can be pretty stunning. I had a white kitchen and white flooring (can you imagine, with dogs…) and it wasn’t so stunning.
I think I have to test a little corner of that flooring with the stain and see what I think.
Best books are the ones we lose ourselves in, finish too quickly, and then think about for days after we turn the last page. I am a fan of re-reading best loved books. I ALWAYS “find” something I overlooked or realize an idea or a thought I missed the 1st, or 2nd, or 3rd time!!
The TSP is moving right along. I read in your words the enjoyment you are receiving from this project. And just like with our “big houses”, we always have dreams of what we want to have in them someday. Oh, and by the way, 3 months from today is Christmas Eve!!! ? Ho! Ho! Ho!
I want to re-read the Mitford series, for sure. And maybe Louise Penny, as well.
Don’t even mention Christmas Eve!
I got lucky and am only third in line on the library’s queue for Come Rain or Come Shine. I anticipate being able to borrow it in a couple of weeks. I’ve never read Louise Penny’s mysteries, but now am intrigued.
Your floor color looks like the color of my downstairs floors, which is bamboo laminate. Would like to change them to real bamboo, but there are budget constraints.
I’ve just decided not to stain it and I put a couple of coats of varnish on. It really deepens the color and I like it. The stain made it look too much like the floors in my other dollhouse.
Claudia, have you ever tried making baseboards out of cereal boxes? I have not personally but here is a link describing it. It’s in Spanish and English. Just keep scrolling to see the English.Sure would be thrifty!
https://dadasdollhouse.wordpress.com/2013/07/20/lo-zoccolino-battiscopa-the-baseboard-molding/
I haven’t and I already ordered the baseboards, but I’m going read this link for sure, Sharon. Thank you!
Gosh setting aside time to read in the morning must be a good thing for you. You seem to be getting so much reading done! I just don’t get that block of time to read during the day, there is always something going on here!
I used to read my bible faithfully in the morning, why? because my kids (who were home schooled) were all sleeping and I would get up when Ric left everyday at 5 o’clock. Just so I could have some quiet ME time!
Hm… now I’m thinking I should do this again! I love sleep. ;)
I think the Top Secret Project is turning out so great!
I like the light colored floor. however, am thinking a darker floor would give the feel “time” (not dated) just… TIME passing.
Ack! I just used my Honey’s name on the internet! Sssshhh! don’t tell him!
;)
xo
Well, I’m going with the lighter color (with some varnish on it) because I don’t want the floor to look like the one in my dollhouse.
More modern, more guy-like…
The secret project is coming along!! I like the flooring but color depends on what else you have planned for the space. oh and yet another book to put on my TBR pile!
hugs,
Linda
Our TBR piles are getting bigger and bigger, Linda!
Good day! Be careful with the flooring and what you put on it. I had similar flooring and it warped. I can’t remember what I used but it was a clear varnish. Of course, it could have been my fault but it annoyed me greatly.
Well, it’s been varnished – per instructions on the package. I’ve glued it and I put lots of books on top of it and will keep them on there for several hours. Fingers crossed!
(from yesterday) I cant find any markings :( don’t know where he got it
your project is beautiful… the patience you have is amazing.
question: is it best to read Jan Karon and Louise Penny in the order in which they were written? I am looking to get into a new author and they both sound quite promising
thanks for your input
Yes. It’s best to read them in order. Both authors have books taking place in small towns; Mitford and Three Pines. The inhabitants of the town are recurring characters in each book and following their stories from the beginning is, in my opinion, the best thing to do.
I am getting a bit frustrated trying to find all of the Penny books to read them in order…I believe I will try finding the rest of them online cheap and maybe I can get one or two a month depending on price..I would rather not read them on my Kindle since I already have some hard copies..They would look so nice on my old bookcase after I get done re-doing it..I am really enjoying “The Returned”…there are great lessons to be learned in it pertaining to love, acceptance and compassion….I see that doing the TSP room is a lot like real life..patching, spackling and painting…all worth it in the end…I glad you chose to keep the light flooring..
That’s so funny, I was just thinking about getting all of my other Penny books (which are upstairs) and putting them on the bookshelves in the den.
I agree about The Returned. I thought it was beautifully written and powerful in terms of life lessons. So glad you’re enjoying it, Nancy.
which series would you recommend starting with? Penny or Karon
They’re totally different. Penny’s are mysteries. Karon’s are storied about the people in a small town in NC. It’s up to you.
I enjoy how excited you get about your great reads. Makes me want to read them. Right now I have a Phillipa Gregory stack, but since I have gone back to work to teach for the semester, I am reading student essays. Not always the best read. I plowed through the Outlander series last summer, so my brain needed a break. Your hard wood floor will look awesome. I have used the hobby lobby floor (it may be House Works LTD). I am curious to see how you decide to finish it. I used a custom stain made to match the woodwork in the Blue Farmhouse; It is a golden oak color. I gave it 3 coats then I gave it 3 coats of clear polyurethane. Then I smoothed it out with fine steel wool, being careful not rub too hard. I wanted to smooth out the roughness. Finally I used Johnson furniture wax. I left each coat on to dry then rubbed and polished and added a another coat. The floor turned out beautifully. So now I am very curious to see how you finish yours. You are the pro. I am the beginner. Have a great weekend.
I ended up not staining it but, instead, applied two layers of varnish to bring out the grain. I may use some beeswax…we’ll see!
Nothing like a good book! I see someone mentioned Girl on the Train to you. I haven’t read it – I’m not into suspense and mystery – but my husband just read it and loved it. I asked him if it was better than Gone Girl (which I know you didn’t like) and he said, “Oh, yeah. Definitely.” So, give it a try!
What is this secret project that you’re working on for Don? I’ve seen you mention it a few times but I must’ve missed a post where you’ve said what you are doing.
Love those heavy mahogany office chairs that you showed in your previous post.
I’m building a one-room ‘dollhouse’ for him that will be a music studio/retreat. If we can’t have it in real life, I can at least give it to him in miniature!
What do you have on your list for the project? Or supplies you need to make them. Maybe I have some minis that you need or supplies you need. E-mail me if you like (no peeking hubby).
I was in Westfield NY Sunday but didn’t make it down to the mini store : (
Oh no! You missed the mini store. You’ll have to go sometime so I can enjoy it vicariously through you.
I am just up to Nature of the Beast. I’ve been listening to the audio book series from this author since I found one of your posts on her. I love the series, and the narrator was wonderful. Sadly, he passed away and a new reader narrates the latest book. I have barely started it.
I love flooring sheets. :D Easy to use and they do stain well.
So glad you are enjoying Louise Penny, Brae. Yes, the narrator was Ralph Cosham, a well-known Washington DC area actor. I didn’t now him, but I have many friends who knew him.
On this latest audio book, Louise Penny spoke about Ralph and introduced the new narrator. I thought it was super classy on her part. You could tell he meant something to her personally.
She was very, very upset when he died. She wrote about it in her newsletter. Do you listen to the books when you’re working on your miniatures, Brae?
I do! I never have time to “read” a book, so I try to find a good series of novels on audio book. :D