Bound......and Boundless Books

In the grand scheme of things, old leather bound books catch our eye and cause a gasp...................but remain on shelves, peppered with dust, unreadable, just resting in their glorious beauty, tempting but unattainable.

Beautiful books seen at a shop recently.
This is what I feel like doing today ~ I would be happy curled up on a sunny window seat, surrounded by my new gift books, a cup of warm herbal tea at hand.

Books in Winter ~ Jessie Willcox Smith.

What shall I read first? There are so many to choose from. A little book on Porches from my daughter - you all know about my love of the porch, that great American icon.

The dustcover notes state ~ "The porch is a bridge between the interior life of the home and the world outside - a place to quietly reflect on the day, sit with neighbors and catch up on their news, linger with friends, or be alone with your loved ones and your dreams." Perfect.

Provence Style. Mostly lovely photos to sigh over ~ houses, landscapes, interiors, details. I hope to return to Provence later this year - I want to take photos as lovely as these.

Two special books, tempting tomes - wished for over the past few months. Much too expensive, worth waiting for those discount coupons - Santa used them and left these wished for books in my stocking - guess I was nice after all!





"Freeing your life with words" ~ POEMCRAZY ~ this has to be the perfect book for bloggers, after all we love words even more than photographs, don't we?

"Jubilant . . . More than an instruction book for tapping the creative and beginning to write, Poemcrazy is also about being alertly alive. It is a field guide to imagination. Inspiring, short meditations on scenes or events . . . spark new ways of seeing." (Chico News & Review).


So...............to me this little book, and a great camera, should get one through this often complicated life.



If you've never read Marlena De Blasi's books you are really missing amazing stories of travel, cooking, romance and love. A Thousand Days in Venice and A Thousand Days in Tuscany are so enchanting - books I will return to again and again for their stories, and her earthy writing.

Her new book, a gift to myself, The Lady in the Palazzo, promises even more delicious reading as she, and her Italian husband, move on to Umbria, still searching for their true home.



And, last but by no means least, this tiny little book slipped from crumpled tissue in a large gift bag.........and changed my life! What a special gift from my special friend Su. Excerpted from the bestselling The World According to Mr. Rogers ~ yes, that Mr. Rogers, of "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood" ~ this is a book everyone should read, it's amazing. Fred Rogers has left an enduring legacy, be sure to read either version....and this tiny one will only take a little time if you are really, really busy.

Hope you are enjoying whatever you're reading these wintry days. Do you have a window seat? Perhaps you cozy up to the fireplace wrapped in a chenille throw..........or tuck yourself under the duvet and read before turning off the light at night. A book is a special friend at any time.