… in the good ol’ Summertime.
During this last decade, walking and blogging have become a huge part of my life, effectively crowding out my former hobbies of reading and gardening. And, though I no longer keep a fast pace turning those literary pages, I continue to buy books, despite the fact there are plenty of unread pocketbooks purchased long ago and languishing in cupboards and drawers upstairs and in Rubbermaid tubs downstairs. They await my highly anticipated “golden years” – sigh. I’ve already begun to think of the hobbies I will revel in when I have endless hours to myself and, as you know from this recent blog post, I hope to take charcoal and pastel crayons to paper, plus dabble a little in paint as part of that R&R.
“There is no friend as loyal as a book.” – Ernest Hemingway
Just like the quotation above, being an only child, I learned at an early age how to self-entertain and reading books was a perfect means to do this.
I was an avid reader from the time I was a tyke and attribute that to my parents. I had a wicker basket filled with Little Golden Books that I read and reread and had memorized long before I started kindergarten. After starting school, on weeknights, after dinner and dishes were done, while I did my homework at the kitchen table, my parents pored over the pages of The Toronto Star and Oakville Beaver newspapers. I don’t recall them watching the nightly news on TV, but instead preferring to absorb the local, national and worldwide news events on those printed pages.
Likewise, on the weekend, for their down time, they had few favorite TV shows, but were most likely to be reading a book or a magazine. I would similarly have my nose stuck in the latest book in The Bobbsey Twins or Anne of Green Gables series. Life was good and simple back then.
I don’t recall much about visiting the library as a youngster before we moved here from Canada in July of 1966. But in middle school, because we did not have a set of encyclopedias at home, any book report research necessitated a trip to the local library.
Many evenings in my tweens and teens, would find me compiling facts and figures for term papers. My father drove me to the library after dinner was done, where soon he would be dozing in one of the comfy brown leather chairs, while I fed dimes to the copy machine, thus enabling some of my research efforts to be taken home. Once I recall he awoke with a start and called out “Linda, aren’t you done finding out about the Baobab trees and the African Hottentots yet?” (Why do I remember such trivial things … but I digress.)
Schoolkids today have it easy, with Google at their fingertips, a mere mouse click away. No trips up and down the library aisles, searching the many shelves for some obscure book. The kindly Mr. Schaefer, our head librarian during my school years, was a stickler for youngsters understanding the library, i.e. he would never assist you to locate a book, until he was assured you understood the Dewey Decimal System and likewise perused the card catalog before asking his assistance.
While I gathered facts and figures for a book report or term paper, within earshot was Miss Montie, the children’s’ librarian, conducting “Storytime” while sitting at eye level with a group of children, similarly parked on squat stools while she read to them. How fun! I wished I could join them as I heard oohs, aahs and giggles erupt as Miss Montie moderated her voice while she paged through the featured children’s book. She was so animated, often flailing her arms around to act out a particular character’s actions and adapting her voice to theirs. She really got into those reading sessions, so much so, that she’d have to hastily grab the woolen shawl which perpetually adorned her shoulders and would slip off during these animated readings.. Suffice it to say the children were mesmerized by Miss Montie’s storytelling. These were good times, even though I only vicariously enjoyed them while researching about those Hottentots in their huts.
You’re probably wondering why I stirred the memory pot in this post … after all, it isn’t end-of-school time, nor back-to-school time either. Hmm.
So here’s the backstory for today’s blog post.
I was strolling along the Dingell Park boardwalk at the Detroit River back on Friday, June 17th. Besides enjoying the breeze off the water, I was taking photos of the usual waterfront happenings and resident waterfowl. As I returned to the parking lot to drive home, I saw some activity at the pavilion area and, of course, Your Roving Reporter had to check it out.
I learned that the Ecorse Public Library was conducting its own Storytime at 10:00 a.m. under the pavilion. I met the four library staff members: Alice, Madison, Katie and Oliver and, while I regaled them with my memories of Miss Montie and her Storytime sessions, Madison, who is also an artist, was busy creating chalk art drawings to match the fish theme for that day’s reading.
Regrettably I had to leave, or risk being late for work, but that evening I checked out the Library’s Facebook site to see how the event went. Scrolling down, a colorful image entitled “Watercolors by the Water” and its description of “colorful and creative fun” drew me like a magnet; could this be the first stepping stone to joining the plein air painting group in the future? I hopped onto Amazon and ordered some watercolor painting supplies for the event.
The following Friday found me once again strolling the boardwalk after walking four miles at Council Point Park. Alice and Madison were ready for their encore performances, as reader and artist respectively, but this Storytime featured dinosaurs. Chalk art lovers will like these fierce dinosaurs and dinosaur eggs. Madison is posing with dino hand puppets.
I asked Madison if she was teaching the watercolors class – she said “yes” and I told her I had ordered supplies and registered and I was told supplies would be provided and snacks as well.
Watercolors by the Water.
On Saturday, June 9th I arrived early at Dingell Park to get a parking spot and take a few photos of the riverfront scene our group would be painting. It was a picture-perfect day, albeit windy – winds were gusting at 18 mph.
You can see the high winds a’blowin’ in these shots …
… and rippling waves in these photos.
Alice, Madison and a few City employees struggled against those wind gusts to put up a large canopy, then chairs were readied and two tables stocked with watercolor supplies.
Madison, who is a real artist, is also the Ecorse Public Library’s Marketing Coordinator and doubles as one of the library clerks. She showed us a sample watercolor painting and set the stage for what we would be doing as seen below.
The class was about 90 minutes long and during that time, Madison and Alice checked out each of our work-in-progress paintings.
Dingell Park was a happenin’ place. Besides people enjoying the stellar weather at this park, a huge freighter passed by …
… and look at this Tiki boat drifting down the center of the Detroit River. I told the group I had to take some pictures of that boat, the first sighting of its kind for me.
All too soon the class was over and I was the last one finishing up (thanks to those pesky railings – grrr). The wind helped dry the paint very quickly and my painting was done and ready to initial five minutes after the last brush stroke of green for the grassy area near the boardwalk.
Here is my finished painting, a little abstract and heavy-handed on the colors, but next time I vow to do better.
I will be sure to try another one of Madison’s classes, especially if it is in the Summer months.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Oh the joy of books…so much of who.i am comes from the pages I read when younger…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same here Michael. I read all the time and, along with the usual children’s books, a variety of books on animals, nature, wildlife, the James Herriot series as well.
LikeLike
What a marvelous post!! You are adventuresome. Thanks for sharing and good luck with the water colors.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Anne – I am glad you liked it. I originally only intended to do a post about the chalk art at Storytime and use the stone boy stretched out reading that I photographed in a homeowner’s garden, then this watercolor class gave me a chance to merge both events. I have to paint a little lighter, more pastels next time, though it was a vibrant day and the sky and water were deep shades of blue. Since I bought the watercolor paint, brushes and paper, I can try some other scenes too before Winter settles in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done, Linda! 😊 I love the summery colors and the gulls flying above the scene. The outdoor art class sounds like a lot of fun. By the way, I used to read “The Bobbsey Twins,” too, but had never heard of “Anne of Green Gables” until I had children of my own. My parents invested in a Encyclopædia Britannica and so never took us to a public library. When I used to visit my widowed father in his declining years we still made use of the set. It came with its own bookcase, two shelves which fit the volumes exactly. And it came with an immense, heavy dictionary. I enjoyed your library memories with your father!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Barbara! It was fun and this was the third time for meeting Alice and Madison, so it made it nice knowing someone since I went alone. It was such a beautiful day, except for those pesky winds which was drying the paint very quickly. Since I enjoyed myself and have purchased the paper, paints and brushes, I may go out myself a few times before Fall and Winter arrive. I loved “The Bobbsey Twins” too. All young Canadian girls read “Anne of Green Gables” as it was written by a Canadian author and took place on Prince Edward Island. I am glad you got to enjoy Anne’s story with your children. We never had the encyclopedia set, but my parents bought me a unique paperback encyclopedia that was chock full of stats, fact and figures. It was about eight inches tall and just crammed with info and black-and-white sketches. My father went to the library with me and would get a magazine and fall asleep moments after sitting down. The lounge area was conducive for naps on those comfy leather chairs. He was always encouraging me to “move along so we can go home!”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very nice Linda, I like your painting and what a great idea to have all this in the park, the reading for the children and a teacher for painting. Plus fun scenery all around. I never was much of a reader, I remember going into a library a few times. Wonderful post. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Sandra. I thought it was a good idea as well. They have been doing renovations at this library and doing online “Storytime” but having these Summer reading sessions at Dingell Park and they will go thru Labor Day. It is a pretty venue and lots of people were enjoying the perfect weather. If I painted in watercolors before, it was when I was a kid many many years ago. I know the colors seemed a little dark and I’ll do better the next time and I believe there will be a next time, as in another class, or maybe I’ll try it myself.
LikeLike
Great first try at water colours Linda! This would be an excellent art form for you to continue with after you retire!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Wayne! It was so windy that it kept drying the colors quickly so I felt it was a little dark but it was such a vibrant day out – bright blue sky and the water was in many shades of blue and green. My first time – if I did it before, I was a kid. I’d still like to join the plein air painting group when I retire as I think it will be fun since they go to the same venues that I do. Those members paint in both oil and watercolors. I think I’d prefer watercolors – less mess and I likely will only use what I paint in some blog posts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“The Bobbsey Twins” live forever in my childhood memories. Bert & Nan, Freddie & Flossie; the names come back to me like it was yesterday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Dave, me too! Good times reading that series and those names come back to me like yesterday as well. Each new book was to be savored. I never got into “The Hardy Boys” or “Nancy Drew” – just those two sets of twins and their adventures.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your golden years! Ha! They go so fast too! I starting reading young too. Maybe it was because I was raised as an only child too. My brothers were older and out of the house by the time I started school so I had to entertain myself. Good luck with painting. I did water colors for a while.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I believe it Kate! Reading is a great way to self-entertain and my parents encouraged it. Like you, being like an only child, it was a quiet atmosphere, conducive for reading. I miss reading books and not only used to read books, but magazines as well, mostly on my bus trip to/from work. I can’t even get the AARP periodicals read these days – the articles will be stale by the time I get around to reading them. I’m looking forward to trying more painting, a little less heavy-handed on the color though. The wind dried the water on the page too quickly and made the colors dark … that’s my story and I’m sticking to it! Something fun to try and maybe use the finished paintings in a blog post. Did you learn watercolor painting on your own or take classes? I watched a few videos on YouTube before I went to the class.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I took classes for watercolor. I did quite a few on my own. Water color is difficult because you can’t “paint over mistakes.” Once you put the color down it’s there for all eternity! I did a wonderful beach scene for my former in-laws. When they died, the family gave it back to me. I have that and a sunflower and that’s all I’ve saved of my work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Since I have been thinking about joining the plein air painting group, I met with them twice and follow them on Facebook where they photograph their finished paintings and post them to the group. I wanted to decide what type of paints I would use when I was retired and have more time. I figured watercolors as I will only use the paintings for occasional blog posts – I don’t see me being good enough to frame any. So I started looking online to learn and read just as you said, “watercolor painting is unforgiving – you make a mistake and you might as well start another painting.” I watched a few videos before this class. We have a drop-in place to learn painting and/or go there to the studio paint to get critiques/help, which I might do too. A beachy scene and sunflowers appeal to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! Your finished artwork is really good! Good for you for trying something a little bit outside of your comfort zone. I need to do more of that!
Gardening used to be a hobby of mine when I was younger too. Now it just seems like work!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Laurie! I was adamant that I would NOT get into sketching or painting until I was retired, even though I’ve been amassing a collection of how-to sketching books, pencils, oil pastel crayons and paper … and now watercolor painting supplies. But this was a chance to not just sit here inside the house and try to draw something, but to go outside with a purpose. I will try it a few more times before the snow flies since I have the supplies at hand. Gardening is no fun anymore – whether it is laying tons of mulch like you and Bill do every year, or dealing with these out-of-control bushes and weeds. Like you, I want to be outside enjoying myself, but not toiling in the garden.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your painting Linda! That’s great for a first attempt, especially for watercolors which I’ve heard are hard to do, especially on such a windy day. I enjoyed reading about your younger literary experiences at the library. We didn’t have The World Book Encyclopedia at home either, just a cheaper set which was not as good which I think my mother got one volume at a time with the weekly groceries, it must have been a promotion, so any research for a class project meant a trip to the library, which I don’t remember having a photocopier so it all had to be copied out by hand. It seems so quaint now, and the set was probably out of date before it was even printed. I’ve noticed the freighters on the river seem to be really long lately – I saw two on Sunday which went on forever….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Joni! Having taken my own supplies, we were told to put lots of water on the paper before starting. I used a big brush, but maybe it was not large enough, nor wet enough and the page kept drying so I had to swab it a little more. I was still putting the finishing touches on it 90 minutes later. 🙂 It was fun and I enjoyed it and I’m going to go out and try again before the snow flies.
I remember copying some things by writing it out too for some of the oversized pages that didn’t copy well, or had more pictures than words on the page. And, there was often a line-up at the copy machine, or, worse yet, the machine was broken from overuse. The perils of being a student back in the day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Joni – I meant to mention this on Monday. I went grocery shopping and saw the new Erin Hilderbrand book, “The Hotel Nantucket” at Meijer. It was on sale and I liked the “Summer of ’69” which I bought/read after your review of it, so I got it. The cover said it was a mystery and a there is some history about the Roaring 20s … I had to mention that because of your last blog post. Will save it for Thanksgiving or Christmas I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey, great minds think alike! I just finished reading The Hotel Nantucket and enjoyed it very much. One of her better ones I think, and I loved the ghost! I’ll add it to my next book blog – working on a picture blog tonight re gardening as I didn’t have time to finish my other draft. Just gardening stuff – it’s been a year of not gardening. We did get a couple of nice downpours today which will help.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was ready to sign off here and saw your message and had to respond. Does that mean I have to skip the blog post/review until I read it or hurry up and read it this weekend? Hmm. You’re right about great minds and I thought the chambermaid ghost mystery and Roarin’ 20s sounded like a great plot! We had an intense downpour for 20 minutes then it just stopped, like turning off a faucet. But better than searing heat and no rain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I won’t include any spoilers in my revue, it will just be one of many books for a Beach Read roundup review. I’ll probably just say it’s her usual beach read plus the ghost was an added touch! So feel free to save it until later. There wasn’t that much about the Roaring 20’s in it, just the ghost as the hotel was a hundred years old. Hope you went to bed….I’m going after I post my weekly blog. 11 already.
LikeLiked by 1 person
OK, I remember that’s how you did the Beach Read roundup when you featured “Summer of 1969” so I’ll just skip over that paragraph and read the rest of the post. The weatherman says we are having a rainy/stormy Sunday. I already did my posts for next week (I did them over the long holiday weekend) so I could do housework on Sunday or curl up and read “The Hotel Nantucket” – tough choice there. OK, I was thinking maybe the Hotel Nantucket had a vintage theme to it … glad you liked it though. It didn’t look to be that thick or maybe it was just me? I saw you posted your garden post … just took a quick look at the pictures and will read and comment later. I saw your hydrangeas. Are they “Twist and Shout” hydrangeas that turn color according to the acidity in the soil? Mine have never turned blue, just pink.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I read the large print copy from the library which was about 500 pages, so I can’t compare if it was her usual length…..perhaps it was a bit shorter? It was her usual stuff, her characters drink way to much, and most of the food is nothing I would want to eat, and they always seem to make bad choices with men. I’m not really even sure why I read her books, they’re all so similar, other than it’s a summer habit for a beach read….except for the ghost in this one! I don’t remember if they were Twist and Shout, but they were Bloom Again Hydrangeas so they will bloom off and on all summer. They are normally pink, but I put aluminum sulfate on the soil to make it acidic to get them to turn blue, but mostly they end up lavender/lilac hued. I’ve seen some really blue ones, but they must really have acidic soil – the one under my cedar hedge does better. I’ve read if you compost coffee grounds down that helps too. I would read and leave the housework! I think we are having rain this weekend too, Today was lovely weather but mom got hearing aids so it was mostly spent indoors – there’s a 200 page manual to read sometime. I hope I remember all the technician said…..for the price they charged I hope they work well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I usually wouldn’t get hard cover, but it was on sale and I had a Meijer coupon (you spend so much, you get a voucher), so I decided it was like mad money and would treat myself). Even paperback books are expensive these days and I do have the ones my mom and I bought, that she read, but I have not yet.
My mom and I read Nora Roberts a lot and she writes under different pen names and always bought her books – sometimes there were similar plots. We also liked Janet Dailey, with a similar style and somewhat predictable stories. Then there was the big scandal with Janet Dailey plagiarizing Nora Roberts and her publisher terminated her (Dailey). She still continued to write, as we bought books after that issue.
When I was at the diner, regular customers would ask us to save coffee grounds and egg shells for their gardens. We went thru a lot of each and had pickle pails we would fill up and give it to customers. When it rained, the garden smelled like coffee!
We are having this stormy day Sunday and hot and a off-and-on rain tomorrow. Not a stellar weekend. Because it’s iffy weather-wise, I won’t go far as I don’t want to get stuck in the rain.
Some of the newer hearing aids can be “tuned” up by using your computer. A woman I went to high school just got hearing aids/aid (don’t know if it’s one or two) and said she got that kind. I know Carol (my friend in NY) has a sister who got them and they go thru batteries pretty quickly – hope your Mom’s hearing aids are not like that. Good luck with the manual … that’s a lot of info.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She got the top of the line, $6400, that’s after the $1000 rebate the government pays, top of the line, as there wasn’t much difference between the cheapest at $4000, the middle $5000 and the top. I figured if there was a lot of background noise she wouldn’t wear them. It’s from Canada’s biggest hearing clinic chain so supposed to be state of the art technology. She should have had them two years ago at the start of the pandemic as she got her hearing tested then but said she wasn’t ready and the tech said no point in spending all that money if you’re not going to wear them. She got the kind with the charger, so you just pop them in the charger overnight, so you never have to deal with replacing batteries, as I had heard that was a pain and the hearing aids are very tiny. She seems happy with them and does notice a difference even though they are not at full capacity yet – they start you lower so you can get used to them. There’s a remote that you can use to change the volume, which she is not likely to use. The tech set the whole thing up via computer. I can’t remember if she mentioned a phone app, but it was a lot of information on care and cleaning if the very tiny filter got clogged etc that it was a lot to absorb in the one hour she allotted. We go back in 3 weeks to dial them up. They’re fussier to get placed right in the ear than I expected as they’re so small but we’ll get used to it. I haven’t started the manual yet. Today I wasted a couple of hours with the Cogeco tech dept. trying to figure out why Netflix is not working. They decided after trying a bunch of things that the TV is hooked up to the Internet, even though the message says there is no network connection etc. She gave me the phone number for Sony TV tech support (in case it’s the tv which is 7 years old) and also Netflix as I have to figure out how to reinstall the programs/icons. All the apps that came with the Smart TV seems to be gone, so I wondered if they got wiped out when Cogeco rebooked the modem? It seems more likely to me, although they seem to think it’s the tv? Such a run around, I hate tech stuff – it puts me in a bad mood. I feel like I didn’t get anything else done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my goodness Joni, they sure are state-of-the-art hearing aids. I had no idea of the cost of hearing aids. Incredible! You might as well get the best ones to ensure your mom wears them. That’s a good idea with incremental adjustments and no batteries either. Our neighbor got them years ago and left them out as he did not like the “new noises” and would not go back for adjustments. But that has to be 25 years ago at least. They were friends of ours and his wife told my mom that “Andy just leaves those hearing aids out and cranks up the TV and stereo louder!” My mom should have had a hearing aid in one ear from a mastoidectomy she had as a young woman, but the doctor said scar tissue would have made it too uncomfortable. Her glasses used to bother her ear.
I thought of you today as I heard that Netflix is thinking of adding ads to lower the price. They took a beating after they raised prices earlier this year and also monitored/forbid people letting others use their passwords to double-dip. The Smart TV sounds difficult – I feel like a dinosaur with no TV and watching only on Amazon Prime.
A fellow blogger did a review on a movie she enjoyed on Amazon Prime called “Grace” – I read a paragraph of the review and I would like to see it, so like I will do for your beachy reads for “Hotel Nantucket”, I skipped the other portion. Maybe you’ve seen this or can find it on Netflix. It is “Grace” … HOWEVER, I went to get a little synopsis to send you from Amazon’s site and see it is not available to watch in my area. Sigh. I’ve been noticing that despite Amazon’s big acquisition of MGM, I’ve not seen any info on what’s available and a few times I’ve gone to look for a movie that I may like to see one time to put on my watchlist, but you have to buy it. That, despite Amazon raising the price for Prime this year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t heard of Grace. I find if something is on Amazon Prime it’s never on Netflix, it’s an either/or situation. Or like Downtown Abbey is on NBC’s Peacock, which I’ve never even heard of. I’m not that impressed with Netflix, but there were two newer movies just released that I wanted to see, so I’ll have to figure out how to re-add the apps. The Netflix app came built in and Sony said they could do a factory reset, but then all my Cogeco connections would be gone too. The youtube app my brother set up last summer is gone too, and I remember him saying he had difficulty adding it and had to install the Japanese version as Sony is made in Japan. I hope to hire someone to figure this all out, if I can find someone. Someone I know has a son who does computer stuff – she gave me his business card so I may try him if I can find his care. I asked my mother’s neighbour and he didn’t know, as usually the tv comes with the apps already, plus he’s with Bell. Going to bed – have a nice weekend despite the weather!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds confusing – I’m only watching on the laptop so I am just picking and pressing start. Last night I Googled what it meant “not available to watch in your area” on Amazon, since I’d never gotten that message and earlier it said “watch no” – sure enough someone else wanted to know and there were eight reasons … the easiest was just closing all your tabs or rebooting your computer. So when I got online it was available again today, but I didn’t watch it. I know they say if you need troubleshooting of any eletronic device done to ask a teenager. It rained off and on today and tomorrow sounds awful – rainy, stormy day from start to finish. At least, if you get the same weather, we won’t have to water for a long time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I may try rebooting the Cogeco router tomorrow if I’m brave enough, but I don’t want to leave mom without cable tv for the weekend as last time we had to wait 4 days for someone to come out. The Netflix guy thought unplugging the router for 30 seconds might reset it. But the router is in the basement and it’s too dark down there tonight…..otherwise I’ll have to find a teenager. They seem to know these things.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am like you about going into the basement at night. I have found three centipedes in the last week – I think two were the same one (large and very ugly), but one was smaller. But this was upstairs when I turn the light on in the morning – ugh. I never go downstairs in the Summer until it is light out for the same reason. I was sprayed for spiders and centipedes in the basement and house perimeter for years and it wasn’t an issue – I bought some spray, but I am hesitant to start using it. The basement is finished, tiled, carpeted in spots … I go down in the Winter when it is very cold to run a short load of washing to heat up the pipes – bugs are in bed for the Winter. I would wait too. I think you have confirmed that I am reluctant to get a TV/cable down the road and will just use the laptop … I know I’d have to have someone set it up otherwise.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a delightful trip down your Memory Lane, Linda! Books were my best friends, growing up (still? still growing up, too, I suppose).
I love the vibrant colors in your painting and it really projects a sense of a windy day, too. Glad you decided to participate and not put it off to “someday.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed this trip down Memory Lane Eilene. I love to read and am sorry I don’t read as much anymore. I only seem to get reading done on long weekends, but that is not enough. How do you fit reading into your schedule with your genealogy research and its associated activities and blogging? It was a vibrant day out – bright blue sky and so many shades of blue and green in the Detroit River. Thank you for saying the painting was vibrant as I was worried this first attempt was too dark colored. It was extremely windy – 18 mph near the water made it seem windier. I have more to learn before joining the plein air painters. I usually do put things off – this time I seized the opportunity.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reading is part of my work, so I read a lot. I joined a couple book clubs (sometimes wish I hadn’t) that exposes me to works I would not have read otherwise. Reading and writing, that’s what I do!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve taken a few long holiday weekends and finished a book then and enjoyed it so much I question myself why I can’t do better. I hope to change that when I’m retired. I don’t have TV as I cancelled my cable in 2010, but I read all my news online and listen to an AM all-news station during the day. But reading online, social media and blogging, have become the only reading I get accomplished these days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I try to avoid too much news. I find too much decreases my quality of life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have a point Eilene as I find myself horrified every single day by what I hear/read on a local/national or international level. I do concentrate on the SE Michigan area to be in the know, especially where I live, as sadly crime has ramped up considerably the past few years
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, your post and pictures brought back many happy memories of reading as a child and when my own two daughters read for hours and hours. I admire those teachers who can read a book with such enthusiasm that the children are fascinated. I volunteered for that task many times, so much fun. I love that you took the painting class and your creation is beautiful. Nice work, Linda!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad to help you reflect on fond memories for yourself and the girls Shelley. Reading was always a favorite pastime of mine. I have books on hand yet I just bought one the last time I went shopping. One of my New Year’s resolutions was to set aside a half-hour a day to read a chapter in a book. I started that book and there it sits since the first week in January. I “get” that the books will be there for me down the road, so it’s not like it’s a waste of money, but still …. I imagine it would be fun doing the readings – I can’t remember having that nicety at our elementary school.
This painting class was fun and now that I have the painting supplies, I want to try again. I’ll still wait to join the plein air painting group when I’m retired, but at least I feel I’ve taken one small step in the right direction.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, reading is a good past time. Reading a book is different from all the ‘reading’ you do from sun up to sun down. There’s something special about shutting down the world and focusing on the book at hand. A library is such a cool place to visit. Oh, and you can rent e-books from them for free to a Kindle. That’s been fun to do, but I still prefer a hardcover book for some reason.
YAY for painting class and supplies left to do it again. I look forward to reading about your next adventure in a future post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do not have a Kindle and was thinking I might get one when retired, although I would likely wait until I get through some of these books first. I got another new book the other day and we have a stormy Sunday coming up – it’s a toss-up between reading that Erin Hilderbrand book “The Hotel Nantucket” and doing housework. The latter is sorely needed.
I want to try again soon with the painting outdoors, though I guess I should practice indoors first and that would be in the Winter when I’m not out walking and exploring as much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have such a wonderful list for retirement! I hope you find a day a week to just do some of those things before retirement. I think we humans wait too much for a better day. I’m guilty of that too.
I look forward to seeing your paintings! And your next walking adventure post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well Shelley,, you figure you have the rest of your life ahead of you so you put it off – me too. A friend of mine in Florida was killed recently. He was stopped at a red light and a dump truck driver plowed into him. That dump truck driver was texting and my friend’s car had to be removed using a crane to get him out. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital and had a broken back, neck broken in three places and internal injuries – he died two days later, just 46 years old. There is a lot going on on the road these days. This morning a jogger was killed by a vehicle near downtown Detroit. Sigh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, my, that’s horrible news about your friend. I’m so sorry, Linda.
We see many people busy texting while driving when we take our walks. We’re always ready to jump into the ditch. People are so distracted. Sigh is right. 😫😞
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Shelley. I feel badly for this senseless tragedy. Hopping on here to try and catch up … it’s drizzling but we have a deluge of rain plus a stormy day on tap today, so I’ll likely be off the computer (for a change) later.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤗🤗🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well you are just full of surprises Linda! Love the Tiki boat, so clever!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, my first step into the unknown Diane! I thought that Tiki boat was clever too and had to leave the group to get an up-close shot. Who thinks of these things? (They’re probably millionaires by now!)
LikeLike
What a lovely trip down memory lane! Gotta love the library!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a whole other way of life now – what a long-drawn out affair a term paper could become back in the day. But the library was a fun place for the Summertime. Reading will be a priority when I’m retired and have more time to myself. Hope you enjoying the sights, sounds (and wonderful smells) in Italy.
LikeLike
Mille grazie 🌞🌈🍹
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great first attempt, Linda. If your paintings are like your photos (and it looks like they could be), I look forward to seeing a lot more brightness in my inbox when I click on the WP messages with your future posts.
Offerings like this are another reason I love libraries, besides the books of course!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you hbsuefred! It was a fun class and a good way to kickstart the painting hobby for down the road. You may have more confidence than me, but now that I bought the supplies, I have to find another landscape or two to paint before the snow flies. The plein air painting group members are very friendly and go to park venues where I usually walk from April through September.
The library staff has a lot of events going on – I was surprised. I used to go to our City’s library a lot but I don’t think I’ve been back since I’ve had access to internet (1999).
LikeLiked by 1 person
I miss having time to read books. I was a Hardy Boys kid and devoured them all. Somewhere my book reading time went away. Blogging has certainly eaten into it.
I have to admire people who can make real art with watercolors. I still think of watercolors as something to occupy 6 year olds to keep them out of trouble, and not something to make real art with. Watercolors always looked fun until after about 4 minutes into the process and I was reminded that my results were always terrible. You did so much better than i could have.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m with you on lacking book-reading time JP. Before blogging, I spread my downtime between reading, gardening and walking. One goal, when I eventually retire, is to indulge myself in reading again. I envy Joni and all the reading she does. Before attending this watercolor class, I Googled to get some basics from YouTube and was surprised to learn that watercolor painting is more difficult and less forgiving than acrylics. Thank you – I hope to try another landscape, either in a class, or on my own, before the snow flies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The watercolor is lovely but the story of the librarian took my breath away! What a gorgeous glimpse into the past my talented friend. 🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks LaShelle. Rita Montie, the children’s librarian was so involved in that role. Even if you were an adult you could appreciate how much effort she put into her readings. The library staff said they may do another watercolor class so I didn’t pack all my supplies too far out of reach. It was fun and a great weather day, except for the wind. The folks in the plein air painting group are all very nice – they are talented as you may have seen in the link in the library story. I want to wait until I can enjoy learning how to paint and then joining the group. One of the group members used watercolors and the rest of them used acrylics. I met with them twice so far.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you enjoyed yourself!
LikeLiked by 1 person