In the land of lost words -

My latest choice of books arrived last week - delivered to the door like so many other things these days. Browsing for an hour or so in a lovely independent bookshop, perhaps curled in a wingback chair with some classical music playing very softly in the background, is on hold of course. Just when we really need beautiful books and tantalizing stories, we have to get our hands on them via a computer, a wait, the grey Prime van pulling up at the bottom of the driveway, the loud 'plop' as the heavy box hits the top step outside the front door. Slash open the box, pop some bubble wrap - you do that too don't you? New books are lovely. You have your own favorite chair, your own music to play if you enjoy quiet background sounds. If warm, sit by the open window, birdsong is everywhere these days.  Life is still good, very good if you allow yourself to grab and hold on to loving your favorite things be it cooking, painting, writing, listening. . . . . and of course reading.

If interested in the reasons for my latest book picks, read here.

From top to bottom of the stack:

In Patagonia - Bruce Chatwin
"An exhilarating look at a place that still retains the exotic mystery of a far-off, unseen land."
Having visited there twice, I've had this classic by the great British travel writer on my 
list for a long time - starting it today.

The Shell Collector - Anthony Doerr
A book of short stories so wonderful I couldn't put it down. After enjoying his novel
 "All The Light We Cannot See" so much, I just had to read this. . . . .loved it, 
and will be reading over and over when in need of a fabulous short story, beautifully
written.

Peregrine Spring - Nancy Cowan
"A Master falconer's extraordinary life with birds of prey."
Nancy (and her husband Jim, a work colleague of Bob for many years), are friends.
 I have visited their internationally known New Hampshire School of Falconry and 
felt the weight of an exquisite, huge raptor fly in and land on my gloved hand to eat. 
An experience like no other!
This book is going to be wonderful, educational, and I'm anxious to read it.

A Way to Garden - Margaret Roach 
'A hands-on primer for every season'.
I know Margaret well from her wonderful online blog and many
years as garden editor for Martha Stewart Living magazine. 
She also writes a New York Times column.
Margaret's weekly blog post from upstate New York is always full of fabulous 
gardening tips, podcasts with other well known gardeners, and generous
 book give-a-ways (I won one!).
Now I will be opening her book often, enjoying the beautiful photos and learning
 more about a hobby I love. After all, "A garden is a job for ever".

The Lost Words - Robert MacFarlane & Jackie Morris
The lovely surprise was that this is an exquisite oversized book which looks 
perfect left out to be picked up, opened, and to be in awe of because of the
 beautiful illustrations.
Publication of the most recent edition of the Oxford Junior Dictionary - widely
 used in schools around the world - dropped around forty common words
 concerning nature, as they weren't being used by children. "Lost words" 
included acorn, bluebell, fern, newt, otter, dandelion and willow. 
Words taking their place include attachment, broadband, cut-and-paste
 voice-mail and blog!

Powerful signs of the growing, and quite frightening to me, gulf between
 childhood and nature.
A picture book of the best kind - it is truly fabulous - and you will find me by
 that open window, listening to the birds, as I turn the pages during
 these days at home.

A weekend thought -

Wearing a mask inside your home is now highly recommended. 

Not so much to prevent COVID-19 but to stop eating!

Have a great weekend anyway dear readers!

Children's books and bookshops . . . . . .

So many books, so little time.

I've yet to meet anyone who just doesn't like books!

How about you? 

We may not all be buying, borrowing, ordering, swapping, searching for books

 every minute of each day, however if you're like me, your day seldom passes

 without picking up a real book to read for some reason, be it a recipe, 

instructions, reference. . . . . . . or just enjoying a good story.

All these photos were taken in May during my second visit to what has to be my

 favorite bookshop ever.

Unfortunately it's over 3,000 miles from here in Bath, England so I haven't been able

to get there often! I was introduced to Mr. B's Emporium by my wonderful friends 

Ruth & Mike who go there often. They've taken me there for my two much too brief

 visits, and we shopped for fabulous books together. 

Named as one of the Ten Best Bookshops in the World (Guardian), and twice

being named UK Independent Bookshop of the Year, plus many other awards, 

Mr. B's is amazing in so many ways.

If you would like to learn more, and there is so much more, about Mr. B's,

be sure to visit the website HERE. Fabulous book info, recent store extension

 info (which included this awesome children's area), and great Podcasts to

 listen to. Today I'm listening to the Podcast with Tara Westover, author of the

 best seller 'Educated, and Mr. B himself with his 8 year old daughter whose

discussion on children's books featuring schools is delightful.

I spent a lot of time in the children's section of a large book store as a child - it was

a favorite place to spend any money received for birthdays and Christmas. It was

definitely not as colorful and fun as this shop though.

So pull up a comfy cushion and each choose a special children's book to get lost in!

Do you have a special one you recall enjoying as a child, or even as a grownup?

I think I would have to choose an Enid Blyton (1897-1968) book, one of the

Famous Five series which I loved as child. A series of children's adventure novels, 

  the first book. Five On A Treasure Island, was published in 1942. 

The novels feature the adventures of a group of young children – Julian, Dick, 

Anne and Georgina – and their dog Timmy.

A prolific British writer, Enid wrote a total of 762 books selling more than

 600 million copies!!!!!!

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.”— Dr. Seuss