Strange Mom Experience

So the Daughter is off in DC learning how the President makes his decisions, meeting politicos and otherwise having a time I cannot even imagine having. The first (and only) communication was late at night. I was half-asleep, she was jazzed. Now announcing she wants to go to (wait for it) LAW SCHOOL!!! (So, Bo...)

Around here, my poor bookstore is open erratically due to my part-time "real" job, about which I will write next time.

Meanwhile, I just got in two large boxes of miscellaneous non-fiction, which look promising & will be affordable: WWII history, theology & some philosophy -NOT TEXTBOOKS-good authors like Barbara Tuchman (Bible & Sword), and The Travels of Marco Polo with 25 full color illustrations (Orion Press), in very good condition. New knitting books continue to arrive, most notably Elspeth Lavold's Viking Patterns, and a lovely book for all artists (especially fiber) called Approaching Design Through Nature: A Quiet Joy by Grace Martin. Gorgeous too is Handmade Lace & Patterns in hardcover, by Annette Feldman, a history with plenty of pictures.

Look for Village Books at the Knitting Out Loud booth during Fiber Maine-ia at U of M, Orono, October 10 & 11.

During these beautiful fall days, I'm able to open all the doors and enjoy the mingled sounds of the brook and the occasional goat bleating. Very peaceful!

Watch for the open flag & drop in! We will be closed Friday a.m. for Common Ground, open Saturday 9-5, and open Sunday 9-2.

Warmly,
Karen

Village Books Maine: Knitting in Color

Village Books Maine: Knitting in Color

Knitting in Color

Knitting in Color

Happy Goats, Happy Husband

Welcome LUCY!!

Winnie has a roommate named Lucy! She's also a cashmere goat, about a year and half old. There is no more loud complaining coming from the goat pen!

Winnie, as she gets comfortable, has become very BOLD! She's climbing me, butting Roxanne & Dixie (lovingly) and doing some lovely, elegant rear-ups for Lucy's benefit.

Winnie has a morning wash.

Meanwhile, Jeff had a birthday, which the goats were part of, and spent it building goat-y things, like fences. Both ladies followed him around the yard all morning. Roxanne has discovered that they love the Simon & Garfunkel song "Cecilia", so she & I sang them a verse or two.

In other birthday news, Jeff also received a ticket to go see The Decembrists in Orono with his daughter, and the strange thing pictured below.




Best friend Scott assured me that Jeff NEEDED this! Thanks, Scott!

In the Book World (where I rightfully belong), there were great finds to be had in Searsport on the way home from picking up Lucy: 2 volumes of Ridpath's Universal History; vintage baseball by Arthur Stanwood Pier called The Captain; a lovely vintage copy of Stevenson's Child's Garden of Verses; a diapidated but utterly charming book called Knitting Work: Web of Many Textures (1859)by a man named BP Shillaber under the pseudonym Ruth Partington; and a bunch of new-ish cookbooks from many cultures, and a replacement copy of the perennial favorite Straight Man by Richard Russo. (Really want to read his new one!!!)

More soon,
Karen

Meet Winnie!!!

September 14, 2009
Post-Fiber College

I blame this entirely on (in this order) Kathy, Astrig & Hatie - none of whom stopped me!!!!!

The Jelenfys are thrilled to own Winnie, the cashmere goat!

More when I get over myself....

Web Site Up, Book Woman Down!

Sooooo happy to announce that the Village Books website is much more functional. With the help of web designer Kathleen Kearns, I've added a database that will allow me to post more books (and remove them as you buy them). Pictures of the chosen volumes will be up soon. All shipping is free - so have at it!

Meanwhile, my left arm & shoulder are screaming (everyone blames knitting but how could sweet, darling knitting ever hurt me?) and I'm taking it (relatively) easy. Took the time to listen to Knitting Out Loud's latest audio book, Mason-Dixon Knitting, which is truly a joy. When authors Ann & Kay read to me, I want to jump in the car with my knitting bag & drive to Manhattan & Tennessee simultaneously. Or have them over for tea. Or something. It's a joyful and soul-warming experience, spending time with these two. Highly Recommended! (The books ain't bad, either.)

With the start of junior year of highschool for the 16-almost-17-yr-old girl, bookstore hours have become peculiar again -- BUT, I'm going to try to stick to

TUES, WED 9-3; Thurs 12-3, FRI, SAT 9-5 and Sundays by chance. (Mondays: don't even think about it!)

This will give me the chance to drive said daughter all over the universe and maybe attend a few of her soccer games. There will be days, too, when I'm actually off somewhere else working for pay, so Autumn is a good time to look for the flying OPEN flag before trotting up to my door.

Hey, these new anti-inflammatory pills are good! Maybe just a few rows of rib stitch....

Love, Karen

PS If you haven't read Annie Proulx's novels, I suggest you get started. Reading Postcards right now - it's totally absorbing and alive with detail. Highly textured writing from one of America's best writers! Pick up anything she's written (in my store, of course) and settle down for an intense ride.