summer reading

The middle of summer quickly approaches

with many long, hot days to follow.

Here are  a few of the books I have set aside to read.

xo, j

the morgan library and new york public library

morgan cat

new york public library 

patience or fortitude?

Last Saturday I took my own library tour of New York City.

The Morgan is my new favorite place;

complete with secret passage ways and tiers of walnut bookcases

it's intimate, mysterious and romantic all at the same time.

The New York Public Library was crowded 

but still a grand room to visit.

sigh…books

xo, j

on not getting rid of books

"They chart my life.  I don't want to sound ponderous, but they

chart my intellectual life.  They chart everything that I've been interested in 

and thought about for the whole of my reading life.  So if they went  I would,

in a sense, lose a sense of identity.  They identify me…"

-Penelope Lively

This is an excerpt from an interview

 by Terry Gross on her NPR show Fresh Air

from March 17, 2014.

queen of the bed

"However little television you watch, watch less.  

Read.  Read for pleasure.

Read for happiness."

-David McCullough

And so I have.

Thoroughly absorbed in an 800 page tome

with a small stack waiting on my chair.

While wandering through my local greenhouse Saturday

I found a large palm plant in the discount section.

I have a weakness for wayward plants so now I wake 

under the sweeping green boughs each morning.

I hope it will get enough sun in that corner,

but better a chance with me than into the dust bin.

Cut veggies to be roasted for dinner

and Pantone color reference cards to try and spur

my reluctance to commit paint onto board.

It's snowing again...

but spring is just a couple of weeks away.

xo, j

Moravian Bookshop

my weekend mantra

This weekend the weather turned very mild

and the soft air offered a much welcomed relief.

I wandered around Downtown Bethlehem and visited

a favorite old store, the Moravian Book Shop.

As I walked back to my car I stopped for a while and sat

upon a set of dry steps, turning my face to the sun...

Recently my days have been full of books

and only this afternoon did I pick up my knitting again,

my hands rested and ready to finish waiting projects.

Dinner of roasted vegetables over brown rice

with a dash of sesame ginger sauce awaits.

I feel relaxed and rejuvenated,

ready to begin the upcoming work week.

My thoughts are with friends far away...

xo, j

before work

Foggy, foggy morning...the slow patter 

of rain drops on the already soaked leaves.

With my coffee a couple of knitting books; 

The Yarn Whisperer, a gift from my Mom, 

and the pretty yarn a gift from my sister-in-law 

brought back from Ireland.

Clementines for breakfast.

Another adventure ahead this weekend…!

cloudy monday

The cowl I knit this weekend didn't work out

so it's a simple ball of yarn again.

Spent two hours wandering around the library today.

The Snow Child was such a beautifully written fairy tale

it was difficult to find another book to interest me.

The story will remain with me for quite a while.

Perhaps I should have read it a second time...

The days are growing shorter and cooler.

 Box elder seeds hang like chandeliers outside my window.

road trip

Tomorrow morning my brother and I are heading out on a road trip.

I'm scrambling to get packed, it must be done before I leave for work in an hour!

One thing that I've been a bit obsessed with lately is this book

of illustrations by Charlie Harper.

We've had the book in the store for about a month now and I often 

found myself wandering over to the table for a quick flip through during the day.

Now I've purchased it and couldn't be happier, I highly recommend it.

The bold and simple renderings just seem to resonate with the embroidery

work and little paintings that I've been doing, we'll see what becomes of it!

So off to the mountains of Western North Carolina we go.

I won't be back for about a week but will surely have many photos on my return.

Take care and enjoy the 'dog days of summer!"

xo, j

From Coco...

I came home for lunch and found a package leaning against my door.

It was an unexpected gift from the dear and very talented Coco!

So many beautiful gifts!

Including the much loved house slippers.

Don't those red toes just make you smile!

And that little bird drawing!

I am so grateful for all the amazing people I've met

and dear friends made through blogging.

Thank you all 

And thank you Coco, for warming my heart

(and my toes!)

xo, j

Back Roads and Hawks

I woke up this morning intending to go for a hike at Jacobsburg State Park.

Unfortunately, I left my car's headlights on over night and drained the battery.

After roadside assistance came and gave me a jump

I decided to make the drive to the park anyway.

(what better way to recharge the battery!)

I didn't stop for fear the car may not restart 

but instead drove around the backroads for a while.

I saw a Broad Wing and a Marsh Hawk along with my usual Red Tails.

It's migration season and they like to follow the mountain chain South.

ps. the car battery is recharged and working fine now

Botany for the Artist

that color!

An amazing book I bought a few years ago.

I spent too long paging through it this morning

and must hurry to get to work on time.

Worth the last minute rush...every page of it!

Reading in Bed

I stayed up too late last night reading Cheryl Strayed's new book Wild.

It's just one of those books that is difficult to put down.

The first chapter is frank and grounds you with a jolt.

Then the book begins to soar...her style of writing is so easily devoured

 if not careful you could read it in one sitting,

but I don't want to hurry through.

So out come the magazines.

Rowan, Selvedge and Kinfolk.

Some visual stimulation before work.

My new hiking boots wait by the door...

Peaches and Prints

Isn't that the most beautiful peach!

It was locally grown and even sweeter than it looks.

The bowl I brought back from a visit to Vallauris, France many years ago.

It's the town where Picasso did much of his ceramic work.

The wonderful print was made by Suzanne.

The extraordinary castle, complete with leaping dolphins in the moat,

a gift from a small girl with very big dreams.
Thank you both so much.

I've started reading Rebecca along with the la Porte Rouge book club.

Mrs. Danvers...need I say more.
yikes!

Sunday - At Home

A mostly cloudy afternoon has given way to sun.

I did the usual domestic chores today

vacuum

dishes

grocery

Then settled down with some iced tea

in a favorite little glass.

You used to be able to buy sour cream in these glasses.

Now I stumble upon them at flea markets.

The black wheat pattern was an especially striking find.

I've finally colored and cut all the pieces for the Farm book

and will begin assembly this evening.

Basil and cherry tomatoes share the windowsill.

I'm still amazed that the tomatoes are growing indoors.

Happy Father's Day!