~ Give me sequestered nooks~

'Give me sequestered nooks and the sweet serenity of books'

                                                        -Longfellow

Books, much like my dishes, have a way of overflowing. But I love the look

 of books spilling about.

Books piled up by my reading chair.

Books stacked by my bed.

Books in my tote bag.

"My Library is Dukedom enough. "

                                                                                            -Shakespeare

'The Bookworm. '

by Carl Spitzweg

which hangs in my library

I love the play of light and shadows in this piece.

Of course you can see why I love him. He's a man after my own heart.

The smell of a vintage book can  immediately bring back fond memories of

visiting old book stores in San Francisco with my Grandparents.

Spending hours perusing  aisles lined with books that whispered to me

.....are you ready for an adventure?

Yes, Amelia Earhart

and Florence Nightingale

 and so many others

beckoned me to sit quietly and let them tell me their story.

I loved these trips to our favorite book stores, with their creaky wooden floors and  their tall ladders reaching to the ceiling. One of my favorites spots had so many book

 they spilled out everywhere. Two stories tall.

Stacks on top of stacks.

 Books in boxes on the floor.

 And books on top of boxes.

Oh to be surrounded by books.

and I pledged that one day I would have a library

Well, not quite

 (no, not exactly)

( Hmm, not this one either)

  ( ahh yes, just right)

Be it ever so humble, my little library nook is a beautiful world to me. 

And yes, I'm surrounded by books.

as well as some of my favorite items.

 

 

 

 

I am happy here in this little corner.

A book, a chair, a good light for reading....and I'm off.

These books aren't just items on a shelf

They are my friends. When I look at these shelves, I see  far flung places I've visited from my armchair, things I've learned, laughs and heartaches I've shared with these characters.

And to use a little literary license from one of my favorite characters; 

Ebenezer Scrooge

"Robinson Crusoe, not real? Elizabeth Bennett, Scarlett O'Hara not real ?"

Of course they're real, I say.  Their lives are lived on these worn pages,

and I am free to visit them over and over again.

So I pick up a book, sink into my comfy chair 

 and say to myself

" where shall I go today?"

~What's on my nightstand~



A Note Pad

 I always need to leave myself little reminder notes and
because some of my most creative thoughts come rushing forth just as I'm about to fall asleep, when my mind is quiet and free to run and play.

A wicker basket filled with magazines and some of my favorite movies

And Books of Course

Here are the two latest books I'm enjoying.

I ,like millions of others, have been swept away to the world of Downton Abbey.

It's the typical story of tension between the two young lovers. You know,will they or won't they get together? But we are captivated by

The Clothes.

The gleaming silver

The tables dressed, just so.

&

the gorgeous settings

And I am captivated by The Dowager Countess played by my all time fave, Maggie Smith.

I have been a huge fan for years. Does anyone remember "Californian Suite" ?. (1978)

 That is when I first saw her, I was just about twenty, but I'm a sucker for the verbal repartee and a killer English accent.

She played opposite Michael Caine ( another fave) and she had me at hello.

Here is just a sample of the wit delivered as only Maggie can deliver a line.

Regarding the untimely death of a visiting ambassador (Mr. Pamuk) who showed a glaring breech of etiquette, by expiring while in The Lady Mary's bed:

The Dowager Countess: "Oh my dears, is it really true? I can't believe it. Last night he looked so well. Of course it would happen to a foreigner. It's typical."

Lady Mary : "Don't be ridiculous."

Dowager Countess: "I'm not being ridiculous. No Englishman would dream of dying in someone else's house- especially somebody they didn't even know."

&

"I'm a woman, Mary. I can be as contrary as I choose."

And if you love the BBC series you will love the companion book authored by Julian Fellowes, the writer and director of the series. The book is beautiful to say the least. Full of gorgeous photos and lots of behind the scenes tidbits and historical notes. I'm loving it.

And now that the season has ended, where will I go on Sunday nights
 if not to Downton Abbey?