Sunday, April 26, 2009

"Books and Boots"

It's been an interesting month to be sure!
We've worked hard Spring cleaning our house
always trying to take time to smell the roses along the way.
What helps me to escape is my love of BOOKS!
I am usually reading at least 2 books at the same time.
I keep a list of my books in my journal and I even rate them....1 to 10!
I know this is obsessive but I love to look back
and see what books I've read in years past.
I've been doing this for over 10 years and keeping a journal for most of my life!

I have been reading many of the classics in the past year.
My son gave me Pride and Prejudice for a Mother's Day gift last year
and I've read all of her books this year.
Now I've branched out to other notable classics.
This past month, I've read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte....


very sad..but a wonderful read!
Then I read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
( I've read his other books, Tipping Point and Blink )
and of all of these I enjoyed Outliers the MOST!
They are all good but Outliers will change your LIFE!

At the same time, I read the book, A Stopover in Venice by Kathryn Walker.
It's an easy book to read and very entertaining!
( I will read anything set in Italy! heehee! )
Today I finished Persuasion by Jane Austen and it was excellent.
I also picked up a copy of The Queen of the Big Time by Adriana Trigiani
at a book sale and I may read it AGAIN!
I have had the privilege of meeting her and love everything she writes!

So that's what has helped me stay sane.....if indeed I can make such a claim! lol

And then onto some of the cleaning out process........

GOOD BYE OLD FRIENDS!


These boots are on the way out! It's been years since I have worn them
but I have not had the heart to throw them away. Back in the '70s....
I traced my foot onto a piece of paper and sent it to REI and
they made these boots for me!
I've hiked in CO, NM, UT, AZ, NC, TN, OR, TX....
and even Alaska in these boots (and other states that I've forgotten, I'm sure! )
But they were replaced with better lightweight hiking boots YEARS ago so it's TIME
but it's still hard to give some things up.......at least it is for me!
My friend, Helen suggested I take a picture of them for a remembrance!
Thanks Helen!

Have a good night blogger buddies!

16 comments:

Janet said...

I love reading and I usually have more than one book going at a time, too. I'm reading "Very Valentine" by Adriana Trigiani right now. I've read all of her other books and LOVE them.

I the world's worst when it comes to getting rid of things! I understand about the boots but maybe a picture is the way to go. I might try that!

Betty said...

I've read all of the Jane Austen books and Jane Eyre. I've never heard of the Outliers. I'll have to look for it at the library. I'm always interested in what other people are reading and looking for new authors. I hope that you enjoy The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. I thought about it for days after I read it.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

I think you should plant flowers in those boots and set them outside the front door! They would looks so cute!

Shopgirl said...

Don't throw them away, make door stops out of them or something cute. You have so many miles of happiness in them and they are really fun to look at. Make something fun out of them and they will become a conversation piece.
Mary, Idaho

Draffin Bears said...

You have been reading some great books, Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre are books I have enjoyed.

Isn't it funny how old boots that have been favourites are so hard to part with.

Have a great week.
Hugs
Carolyn

Lisa Lectura Creations said...

I love Jane Austen. I can read her books over and over. You have had alot of great reads and to add it to your journal for 10 years is fabulous. I can't remember all the books I've read. Have a wonderful week!

Hugs,
Lisa :)

Unknown said...

Nice one Diane, I am admiring your lavender bush at the top..I have one plant but it never bloom...love/M

Vee said...

Or you can stick some posies in them and slap them in a corner of your garden! You just know that that is what I'd be doing with them. Ha! They look really cool.

Outliers, eh? Well, I'm going to look for that one. Thank you for the recommendation.

Freckled Hen said...

How neat you have been keeping a book journal...what a great idea! Often times I will read the first chapter of a book and realize I have already read it.
I like the boot picture, sometimes it's funny how we haul around the same stuff with each move then all of a sudden realize you don't need it anymore. I'm certain you must have great memories of all those hikes.

Elizabeth and Gary said...

I agree with Penny, planting in your boots. It would be a great conversation piece.
Your strawberries sounded wonderful over your waffles!.
Enjoy your day,
Elizabeth

Catherine Holman said...

I love reading too and Adriana is one of my favorites. I think she has a blog too where I got some of her recipes. I put them in my recipe file.

I still have my old hiking boots too!
Hugs,
Cathie

Happy@Home said...

It seems a shame to get rid of those boots considering all of your history with them. I was recently at a botanical garden where they were selling old shoes and boots with succulent type plants in them. They were darling and would look very cute outside of a door.

Anonymous said...

Diane, I just bought Emma at our library book sale. Can't wait to get into it. Loved "Jane Eyre" and "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" especially!
I tried "Lorna Doone" but it's much more "prosey" than the others.
Like you...I can get lost in a book. They've been my "escape" since I was a child...and we all need that from time-to-time.
Hugs, book lover!
Diane

Mrs. Cherry Heart said...

I took hubbys old work boots and planted hens and chicks {succulents} in them and stuck them on the porch and I get so many compliments on those old boots!

Hugz, Dolly

Bluebell said...

Lovely Lovely books, what would we do without them, they are the one thing that can take your mind off any problems you have and you can enter another world, much better than television because everything is in your imagination. Jane Eyre is one of my favourites, my daughter loves Wuthering Heights.
Keep Reading
Love Gill

Lallee said...

I love the Austen books. P&P is my most favorite. I just finished watching Little Dorret series on PBS, book by Charles Dickens. The story was new to me and I was thinking the book would be a good read this summer.

Loved seeing your Florida home in the previous post. I wonder if we are close together by chance.