What’s in store for your Saturday? It’s chilly here but if you read yesterday’s post, you know I have to get out and walk the dog. We’re celebrating a birthday around here (how are my babies getting so old?) so we’ll be kicking off the weekend with big cups of coffee and our traditional birthday donuts. I hope you have a lovely weekend in store where you are.
My favorite finds from around the web:
• Why you should surround yourself with more books than you’ll ever have time to read. “Your overstuffed library isn’t a sign of failure or ignorance, it’s a badge of honor.”
• The best thing I ever did (by accident!) for my cast iron skillet. “In retrospect, the error of my ways was twofold: inconsistent use of the pan and not using enough oil to develop the seasoning.”
• Literary murals creating a positive stir at Mundelein High. “This project is a great way to motivate students to read more and to begin conversations about their reading, even in the hallways.”
• Midnight plane to Houston. Fascinating story about the origins of the hit “Midnight Train to Georgia.” Read it!
• How to open an independent bookstore. “Is it as easy as simply loving books? (Spoiler alert: No.)”
Favorite Instagram:
This is about a two-book snow. (Follow me on Instagram @annebogel.)
On the blog:
One year ago: 25 classics that are not remotely boring. “The classics compiled here are, by turns, strange, surprising, and completely unexpected, but ‘boring’ doesn’t apply.”
Two years ago: Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is… “When you’re done goofing off, with your walks and your books and your friends and your lazing, you may find that the idea is there, that the next step is clear, that the problem you were puzzling over about your work or your kids or your wardrobe solved itself when you weren’t looking.”
Three years ago: Trusting the process. “Now when I set goals, I focus on the process (which I can control), not the outcome (which I can’t).”
Four years ago: Four minutes in the nude. “It’s just lotion. It’s silly, really. But it’s saving my life right now.”
Five years ago: Creative habits and daily rituals vs. day jobs and family life. “I was pleasantly surprised to read how many great artists struggled with the same demands–and how sometimes, the structures necessitated by earning money and caring for family didn’t diminish their work, but made it better.”
On the podcast:
One year ago: Episode 117: Literary fiction over US Weekly.
Two years ago: Episode 63: Books so good you’ll forget you have a phone.
Three years ago: Episode 4: Reading as an escape, hating lots of books, and finding new fiction.
Have a great weekend!
17 comments
I adored the story about Midnight Train to Georgia. Made me smile because even though I cannot carry a tune, I can dance…I wanted to be a girl Pip!
I love your cast iron skillet tip. I’ve had the same frustration with my Lodge pan. I also share your flu/germs paranoia (you’ve shared before) during January. I wish I had a hack for that (and a word other than hack!). Enjoy your child’s birthday!
My favorite song- Midnight Train to Georgia!! So cool to find out it’s origin!
One question:how do you find time to find these things on top of all the other stuff you do? Do you ever sleep?
Thanks for sharing! I can always count on you to recommend smart, well-written interesting articles. The Forbes article was my favorite—owning a tiny, beautiful, independent bookstore is a dream of mine! Someday…
I read “A Tree Grows In Brooklyn” many years ago. It is one of my favorite books. Born and raised in Brooklyn I identified with the book.
Marion
I read “A Tree Grows In Brooklyn sitting on my Brooklyn front stoop when I was a teen.
Joan
“A Tree Grows In Brooklyn is a favorite of mine. It could be that I grew up in Brooklyn and am familiar with all things Brooklyn. Did you ever see the original movie? It is a delight.
Marilyn
THANK YOU for the article about owning more books than you’ll ever read being A Good Thing! (As Martha Stewart would say.) I have probably hundreds of books in my libraray that I haven’t read – yet. There are gifts, recommendations from family, friends, teachers, Goodreads, MMD, favorite authors, bibliographies and recommended reading lists from books I’ve liked. It’s rare that I go into a bookstore and come out empty-handed. Usually I leave with at least 2 – Wednesday I left one of my favorite indie bookstores with 3 books (and 3 scones), one of them by an employee I’ve come to know over the past 5+ years, so of course I had to buy it. I cannot resist a bookstore – indie, chain, or used – and I buy books online. So many books, so little time is one of the truest statements ever made. And there are no doubt hundreds and thousands out there I’ve not – yet – heard of that I would find intriguing and want to put on my TBR. What’s a girl to do?! But I do feel much better knowing that being surrounded by lots of unread books is a good sign rather than a bad one indicating moral failure or something equally dire.
Oh man. More books than I’ll ever read, indeed! I have several bookshelves downstairs in the basement, and two smaller upstairs. One is in the kitchen and holds my cookbooks; the other is in the living room and is the shelf which, in theory, I’ll read through and rotate those books out for other, newer books. But dang it, the library keeps tempting me with stack after stack of fascinating books, so much so that I never actually get to reading anything from my own shelves! It’s nice seeing an article that tells me that this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Having this shelf in the living room, staring at me all the time, reminds me of what’s possible. I *will* get to those books, I *will* cram them in to my head…one of these days!
Happy birthday to your kiddo, and give that adorable puppy of yours a belly rub from me! 🙂
I also loved the comment about the books as I often feel guilty for having piles of books everywhere. And, I continue to buy. I have paper backs, hardbacks, Kindle and audible!!
I loved the cast iron pan tip as well! Thanks for sharing
Random question, do you know where the dishes in your cover photo are from? I love the pattern lol 🙂
I’m sorry, but no. (I’m a sucker for blue and white anything.)
Same! I’m getting married this summer, and that’s going to be the theme 🙂
One thing I recently read about cast iron pans is that about 50 or 60 years ago, manufacturers changed their process to skip a final sanding of the pans. Apparently, that’s why old cast iron pans are smooth and newer ones have that pebbly surface.
I love the “surround yourself with more books” article. I think a lot of people wants to make it a reality of reading more books, who doesn’t want more learnings and knowledge right Maybe an hour to set aside for reading will help. I will also share this with my friend who is experiencing anxiety every now and then because of work, she may become happier and healthier at the same time.