November Tidbits: Books and Cameras

I mentioned in my last post that I was reading Chris Bohjalian's novel Before You Know Kindness.  Well, I made it to page 82 before I had to call it quits.  The book was slow-moving, repetitive, and I really didn't like any of the characters.  I am always hesitant about giving up on a book but I've come to the conclusion - and was backed by my cousin who voiced the same opinion - that life is too short to read books that do nothing for you.  So, I moved on to bigger and better things!

Nearly six years and thousands of pictures later, my husband mentioned upgrading our point-and-shoot camera.  Being the photography enthusiast I am, I wasn't going to argue with something new and better than what I currently had so the week before Thanksgiving we purchased a new camera.  I kinda sorta miss my old camera, the way I could just whip it out and know exactly how to get to the setting(s) I wanted, but I know once I actually start warming up to the new camera, the same feelings will unfold.  Time to capture more memories!

Fall Book Sale 2013

At the end of September, I checked out a book from the library and the following conversation took place:

Librarian: Did you get one of these? *points to a bookmark advertising the fall book sale*

Holly: No, but I don't need one; I already have it marked on my calendar.

Librarian: *Look of surprise then a big smile and lots of laughter*

Obviously that librarian doesn't know my history with the book sales.  I don't mess around with this event; it's an event I consider almost as wonderful as Christmas!


So on the first Thursday of October, I spent my lunch break at the library's used book sale.  This was the first time I'd ever gone on the first day of the event and if I thought there were books on the last day, boy was I wrong.  I think my jaw hit the floor when I saw the cartons and cartons of books stacked upon one another and on the floor under the tables; I wish I would have had more than an hour to spend looking at everything but I needed to go back to work to make the money that supports my book collecting habit!

While I didn't get the "special deal" that occurs on the last day of the book sale, I can't complain about the dollar-per-pound I was charged; 11 books for $8.00 is nothing to scoff at.  So, without further ado, here is a list of the books I brought home with me, a list of books still waiting to find a home on my already overflowing bookshelf:

Before You Know Kindness by Chris Bohjalian
The Feast of Love by Charles Baxter
She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb
While I was Gone by Sue Miller
Dewey by Vicki Myron
Blessings by Anna Quindlen
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Sophie's Choice by William Styron
Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon by Debbie Fuller Thomas

I finished The Help this past weekend and then watched the movie on Monday during my day off (yay for long weekends!).  While the movie was very good, it just didn't compare to the book in my opinion.  I can't form the same kind of connections I do with characters and/or situations in movies like I do in books.  I also have a hard time getting over the little details that are left out even though I understand that not every detail can be included in a movie (unless we want it to be several hours long).  I do have to say, however, that I was very impressed with how closely the producers stuck to the book's story line; that isn't always the case so kudos to them.  Anyhoo, I do believe The Help is one book I will not be donating back to the library for them to sell in the future; I want this one to stay on my shelf.

I am currently several chapters into Before You Know Kindness and enjoying it thus far.  I loved Bohjalian's Midwives (picked it up at the spring book sale and, like The Help, it is staying on my shelf instead of donating back to the library) so we'll see how this one compares.

Halloween Decorations 2013

Here are the 2013 additions to my Halloween decorations.  I'm very excited about them; I'm also quite excited about forgetting I bought them until I open up my orange and black tubs next season!

The book stack and little black cat are from Hobby Lobby (Bought the book stack at only 40% off because I didn't want to miss out on having it - one of the few things I've ever bought from Hobby Lobby at less than 50% off!  Kind of strange paying "so much" for a decoration there.); the Happy Halloween town and fake black candle from Kohl's (Free!!!  We used our $10 Kohl's cash and our total came to $9.65!!!); the skull from Target (can you believe I didn't have a skull of any sorts in my collection?!); the gravestone markers from a local thrift shop (So stoked when I found those - I don't think I've ever looked at thrift stores for decorations before.  You can believe I'll be doing it again in the future!).

Book Quote: The Help

I'm currently reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett and thoroughly enjoying it.  It's one of those books I hate putting down; I want to keep learning more about the great characters, hear more of their interesting stories.  I'm almost finished with the novel and have plans to watch the movie as soon as I'm done.

My favorite line from the novel so far:

"All I'm saying is, kindness don't have no boundaries."

Happy Halloween

Halloween Decorations 2012

These were the decorations that came home with me last year.  I've thoroughly enjoyed looking at them this past month and will be sad to see them go in a few days.

I've bought a couple of new decorations this year; hoping to buy a few more if there's anything left on clearance next week.  It's always fun getting new items at the end of a season, putting them away right away, then being surprised the next year when it comes time to decorate again. Stay tuned for this year's finds!

Thirty Days

My sister and I visited one of our favorite thrift stores today during my lunch break.  I found a couple of good things but what got me most excited was seeing this sign:

Yes, I know Halloween hasn't even come and gone yet but for some reason I've been extra excited (extra early!) for Christmas this year.  So, while I refrained from visiting the Christmas store today - I'm going to enjoy Halloween and Thanksgiving as they deserve to be enjoyed (both great themselves) - on November 29th, it's all about my favorite holiday.  In 30 days, I have permission from myself to go back to the thrift store and purchase oodles of glorious Christmas knick-knacks!

Sunday Smile

Next Year

The kiddos went back to school today.  Unfortunately, our little girl didn't make the cut-off to attend this year; next year! ;)

Replication (With an Addition)

This year on our anniversary, Mitch and I happened to be at the location of some of our wedding photos.  This has never happened (and probably won't happen again for several more years) so I wanted to do a little something special; I told Mitch I wanted to re-create one of the photos from our wedding day.  My husband humored me and I love how it turned out (and I adore the furry little addition we added)!

The original: August 4, 2007

 

 

Replication: August 4, 2013