british library in public domain

This is interesting - the British Library just put one million images in public domain and some of them are downright weird. But hey - use away!

improvisational cook

Sally Schneider just gets me.  She lives life improvisationally, and I'm also a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl (check out her awesome and interesting idea blog, the improvised life).  So when she came out with The Improvisational Cook, I knew it was a must-have cook book for me.  I like to cook and I can follow a recipe, but sometimes I just like looking at what's in my fridge and figuring it out from there.  This book is something in between.  It will be mine soon!

 

fabulous autumn road trip

This past weekend, I went apple picking - in Sharon Springs, NY.  Why did I drive 3.5 hours to go apple picking you ask?  Because of a certain book called The Bucolic Plague.

For my book club this month, this is what we read and I loved it.  Gentlemen farmers, goats, simplicity and a quaint town.  I've also started watching their television show on Planet Green, The Fabulous Beekman Boys.  So we got a little crazy and decided to plan a day road trip.  We had a great lunch at The Black Cat, walked the single block known as Main Street, went apple picking, listened to stories by The American Hotel's innkeeper and took a drive by passed the Beekman Mansion, home to the Fabulous Beekman Boys themselves, Josh and Brent. 

My friend Deepa took some amazing pictures to capture our perfect fall day.

books never go out of style

I have a confession - I can't get into kindles or reading books on iPads or anything of the sorts.  As someone who wishes to be more like a computer nerd, this is one area where change and me just have to disagree.  I like the feeling of the pages, being able to underline and write in the margins in case I want to go back and remember something, loaning or giving books to friends because I want to share a secret with them.  I love books - the tangible kind.  And I think having books in your home is special - there are your interests, sitting there, reminding you about the things you love in life. 

So, where to put them?  For me, it's a bookshelf.  Jamie Meares over at ISuwannee sent me this picture a long time ago for inspiration while I was trying to figure out how to arrange my ladder bookshelves.

(girlfriend KNOWS her bookshelves)

This was what I came up with for my room:

(not bad; books, memories and my framed inspirational quote in the middle)

Other things I like:

(framed art on top)

(window sill pop)

(unexpected places)

*Images courtesy of Bippity Boppity Boo, Hey Gorgeous, From Me to You, Elle Decor & ISuwannee

still collecting...

...classic books with covers designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith.  My mom gave me a few for Christmas last year and I bought two more.  I know everyone seems to be raving about these books, but look at them.  How could you not want them on your shelf?  Plus, I love a good classic and one is always in my reading rotation.  Makes me regret not keeping my high school literature teacher's "100 Great American Classics" list.  I want to read more of them!

And now Ms. Bickford-Smith has designed a lovely F. Scott Fitzgerald collection, perfectly gilded.