County Homes, Books and me (of course)!

Country Homes:
I was looking at magazines today and thinking about what we will come next for us. My husband and I are always dreaming of little changes. After a wonderful 4th of July spent with my family in our little home, I came away feeling that this place is important to our family because it tells the story of their life. They see little pieces of their history each time they cross the threshold.


Ice cream table from my grandfather's country grocery

I suppose that is why I am thinking about decorating with things I have stored away. I have always wondered what it would be like to live in a home put together by a decorator. In the end though, I know that what I have is all about the way I live. The Roseville pottery was owned by my grandmother and mother. The Little Red Riding Hood cookie jar was a gift from an aunt when I was a child. Pictures painted on glass graced the wall of an ancestor. Even the toys in the toy box were played with by children that are now nearing 50.

Don't bet me wrong, I am not a hoarder. I give things to my children so that they might treasure them as I have. But still, there is always plenty for everyone. I love my country garden my husband has built for me and will tell stories about each plant, where I bought it or how long I have been moving it from one house to the next.

My beautiful country home is just that because we use what we have always used but in different ways. We love it.

Books:
We have just returned from a trip to Barnes and Noble. I don't care how much I use my Kindle, there is something about a real book that speaks to me. Barbara Kingsolver has a new book out called Flight Behavior: A Novel (P.S.)that is beautiful. The jacket has a sleeve that folds inside like a hard cover book cover. I didn't buy it but I was tempted because I liked the feel of it in my hand.

I picked up several others, some that I have on my Kindle already. It was reassuring to see a printed copy for some reason. Among those was The Amazing Life of Henrietta Lacks and Gone Girl: A Novel. Both were notable books that Barnes and Noble had on their tables. I enjoyed both of these books but for very different reasons.

Then I saw Cleopatra: A Life written by Stacy Schiff. The author wrote the Pulitzer Prize winning book Vera (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov) and I am hoping this one is equally as good.

While I am at it I may as well mention my obsession with the writers of our constitution. I have read John Adams by Davic McCullough(beyond excellent), Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson (author of Steve Jobs biography) and am in the process of reading Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by John Meacham. This is a great way to read books like this, each written by a different author with a different style about men that lived and worked during the same era. Jefferson was very young, John Adams was middle aged and Franklin old. What a lesson these books are teaching me!

Me:
I am having a great summer...I hope you are too.

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Five Little Ducks...stories played out!

The children's song about the little ducks leaving the nest to fly away has always been one of my favorites. Every mother has seen their babies fly away and rejoiced. Life comes full circle. Animals live that same cycle. Babies grow up. Birds leave the nest. Life goes on. So when the three ducks show up every year near my patio I am not surprised. But I am puzzled that it always seems to be the same three. Something just doesn't seem right. It appears the one did not fly away at all. Five little ducks Went out to play Over the hills and far away. The mommy duck went "quack, quack quack," Four little ducks came swimming back... And then Three Two and One. A drake, a female duck (a hen) and a not quite a drake but still not a hen gather here on the 5th green of the golf course. She leads and the other two follow along obediently. They eat, sleep, and guard each other. Each and every day this time of year they come. I have not named them. Jinxing them would be very pos...

How to be a 12 Month Snow Bird

Vacation Rental in Mexico I live around snowbirds 6 months of the year. I have heard those people say that they all want to live the "snowbird" lifestyle when they go home. But it just is not possible. They are isolated and cold. Social activities with friends and beautiful weather are greatly missed when they return to the realities of their "real" life. One couple I visited with lately returned to Florida this morning where they own a home. The woman is a nurse and works in the summer. They are not going home until May this year. It is too cold in Michigan in the spring so they are hoping to extend their good weather season by simply staying away. Besides that they love their Florida lifestyle a lot. Last week I visited with a woman that lives the snowbird lifestyle year around. No going home to the Midwest in the spring. They essentially vacation 12 month out of the year. And I thought their solution for avoiding unpleasant weather and keeping their lifestyle in...

If You Build It, They Will Come...Maybe!

It all began with a antique window in front of a local shop. It had been painted yellow, the glass was loose and all of the hinges and latches were gone. My old friend Betty would have approved...she would tell me it was just broken enough and damaged enough for me to drag it home. When my dear husband saw it, he wondered what he was meant to do with it. Imagine his surprise when he was presented with the plan to build a small neighborhood library exchange. It wasn't the first time he had heard me ask "How hard could it be?" Now it is six weeks later and we mounted the darling little library exchange on two posts in our front yard. I love it. Now the question is, will they come or has the time passed when people actually read something made of paper? Our association president stopped by and admired the box but left after telling me that he only read books on his Kindle. We will see. Would you bring a book and take a book? b+

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