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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