I don't know about you, but I find that weekends can be tricky to balance. On the one hand, there is the need to relax. On the other, there is the urge to run around and get things done.
Too much of the one, and you end up feeling like a lazy bum who has to work extra-hard on Monday to catch up.
Too much of the other, and you feel like you wasted your days off.
Last Saturday, I think we got it pretty much just right. (At least as far as we are concerned – we are a couple of homebodies and are easily amused. But when your goal is just to take advantage of time off together, you don't need much!)
25 cents each. I can't help myself. |
It was the day of our library's quarterly used book sale, and I'd been looking forward to it all week. This is despite the fact that we are officially out of space on our bookshelves, and most of our haul from the last sale is (please don't laugh!) still sitting in boxes behind the sofa.
(Ok, I would understand if you wanted to laugh a little.)
Most of these are children's books, and my plan is to put them in Pippo's room once I find a shelf that's low and long. But the stars have not yet aligned for me to come across the perfect thing in my thrifting travels, and soon I'm just going to have to break down and make a trip to IKEA so my growing children's book library has a home.
And then they'll need some more to keep them company, right?
Besides, I have an irrational fear of all the good books disappearing before I have a chance to collect them for my children. I'm pretty sure I get this from my mother, who confessed after seeing my post about our last trip to this sale that she was stressed out about not being there.
(According to the Lt, “Only a Lawler woman would stress out about missing a book sale on the other side of the country!” But really, he's just as bad as I am.)
Anyway, we decided to make a morning of it, starting with a visit to the church around the corner from the library for confession. The confession times at the churches near us are not particularly easy for us to get to – you'll understand when I tell you that this slot on Saturday morning from 8-9 is the most convenient. It's just an easy time to miss. You really have to plan on it, otherwise you've missed it before your weekend has even started!
From The Golden Age. |
But we did plan on it this time, and what's more, we planned on going out to breakfast afterwards at a diner we like that's just a few blocks away.
Blueberry oat pancakes for me, a Mexican steak omelet for the Lt.
I love going out to breakfast (something else I share with my mother), but I think I need to remember to bring a a little thing of real maple syrup with me next time.
(BYOS? Would that be weird? Is that not done?)
I'll just keep showing you the books we found, since I didn't take any other pictures of our outing. |
Once at the sale, the Lt and I split up: I took the children's section, and he tackled the adult fiction. We didn't even look at the rest of the tables – we already had as much as we could carry!
As we were getting ready to check out, the Lt did a quick once-over in the kids' section to make sure I didn't miss anything. He came over holding a copy of The Trumpeter of Krakow, and telling me how much he loved it when his mom read it to him as a boy. I triumphantly pulled out another copy (the library was discarding both their copies – poor!) from the box the volunteers had packed up for us.
He was impressed that I had picked it out without knowing anything about it.
I could just tell it was good. I mean, look at it – can't you? |
Pippo napped while I stacked books on top of his stroller.
He's just now getting past the purely culinary stage of literary appreciation, and is starting to enjoy sitting in Mama or Daddy's lap and reading a book without necessarily trying to eat it. It's so much fun.
When he sees one of his books, he'll give a big smile, start huffing and puffing, and wave his arms – his way of letting me know what he wants.
He still likes to chew on them, too. We're mostly sticking to board books for now.
Cars! Cars! Cars! |
After all that excitement (can you tell we're homebodies?), we got home and took naps all around, and then spent the afternoon dipping into some of our new books. The Lt and I took turns reading out loud to each other whenever we got to a funny part – we were reading different books, but by the end of the day I think we each felt like we knew what was going on in both of them.
Then the boys went outside and fired up the grill while I did a little tidying up and got dinner ready.
We also had roasted cauliflower (a favorite of ours. And since it's not ridiculously hot here, we don't mind turning on the oven!), tomato-basil-mozzarella salad (tomato and basil from our garden!), and homemade bread. Also a few leftover potatoes.
The grill was for a tri-tip roast, which I'd rubbed with salt, pepper, garlic, coriander, and parsley. It also made for less clean-up, which is always a plus!
Pippo loves this empty yogurt container. I'd say it's one of his favorite toys, currently. |
It was all delicious, though we did have to finish the roast in the oven. I think we need a bigger charcoal chimney!
(Question: have you ever tried grilling cauliflower? Do we think that would work? I think it would probably be delicious if you could keep it from falling into the coals. Our grill basket probably isn't up for the job.)
(Ice cream for dessert, of course.)
And really, that was just about it! A little outing, a little treat, a little sunshine, and lots of happy family time. Pretty great.
carrien (she laughs) says
I'm quite jealous about those Winnie the Pooh books. Next time I think I'll take your advice and check it out. I started reading the Trumpeter of Krakow at my MIL's house and then the child who was reading it for school reclaimed it. The beginning was quite fascinating.
_Rosie says
Most of the books at this sale are library discards; this time around there were more that were donated. The Winnie the Pooh and a few others were those, which is nice because they're a little less beat up than the others!
Joanie says
Pippo is such a handsome sweetie! He is getting all grown-up-looking too. I know, sniff. I would love to spend a Saturday this way. I'm also trying to find a healthy weekend balance. Very tricky!
Lisa G. says
I just LOVE “Goodnight Gorilla” – so cute! Sounds like you had a very nice day. Hope you can manage it again tomorrow – (today?) I'm up cuz I can't seem to sleep.
Maggie says
sounds perfect! and that last photo is just too cute.
Jennie C. says
I love that you and the Lt. are both book lovers. Sadly, my beloved is not, and he's always a little chagrined to look at our overstuffed bookshelves. “Isn't that what the library is for?” he wonders. Strange, unknowing man. 😉
Luckily, I've got seven other book lovers in the house, though, who appreciate my taste in good literature AND having a huge library of their own right in the living room.
_Leila says
Jennie, your husband is right in a way, but sadly, the golden age of libraries (and it was golden and amazing — we were so lucky!) is over. When you see that the libraries are selling the books you really want, you realize what is going on.
So you are right too!
Laura Jeanne says
Yes, the golden age of libraries is definitely over. In our city, they just decided to add VIDEO GAMES to the catalogue…not only do kids not need more video games, but how many new books could they have bought for the price of one game? And what are they going to get rid of to make the shelf space? Each branch is already 1/2 computers and DVDs…it's unbelievable but it seems that books are not even the main thing our library has anymore.
_Rosie says
Wow. Video games?? I am thoroughly scandalized.
Mamalion says
WHEE! You have just solved one of the great mysteries from my youth! Miss Pickerell!!! I couldn't, for the life of me, remember the name of those books! Those, Louis Slobodkin's Spaceship Under the Apple Tree series, and the other was a series about a teenage girl detective- I think the author's last name started with a letter from the front of the alphabet, judging from where I remember their position on the shelves…
Tamim says
Love Miss Pickerell, and the All-of-a-kind Family books, too! I am doing my best to collect them. I've gotten a few Miss Pickerells, and we still need two more All-of-a-kind books to complete the series. 🙂 Unfortunately, I think our libraries got rid most of those great books a while ago, before I started going to the sales. They are very hard to find. Sigh!
Emily says
Oh, I remember All-of-a-kind Family! I loved those!
We need to start a grand master list somehow (maybe hosted here…is that possible?) of all the really glorious golden books that we read as children and want our children to read, so that we don't forget them! (I'm always worrying that I just won't remember to read a wonderful book to my kids, because the last time I read it was 20 years ago…)
Christina A says
Try dealoz.com! It compares a ton of online used book sellers to find the best price. It doesnt include eBay auctions, but does include their “buy-it-now” items. Hope you can find your books for a reasonable price! 🙂
PNG says
I love all the photos of Pippo…he's cute & reminds me of our little Niko who is almost 18 mos. Love those baby faces.:) Our oldest daughter read The Trumpeter of Krakow this year. She loved it! She also read Adam of the Road and Augustine Came to Kent for her literature studies. I ended up buying paper backs of all of these, but I wish we had a library sale where I could have bought hardcovers.:(
Joy says
I stress out when I miss a book sale, too. My book sale finds from this spring are still in their boxes waiting for me to finally put them away (next week) so if I laughed, it was at myself as well. It sounds like you had a lovely day.
_Leila says
Can you believe he's sitting up like that? Ugh. I can't stand it. I want to moan and groan and reach out and grab him!
Okay, cauliflower. Have you ever put the veg in a foil packet next to or on top of the meat (with the cover of the grill on)? Or before you put the meat on? They are pretty good that way!
_Rosie says
Wait until you see the pictures of him standing up!
I'll have to try that with the veg. Would the foil have to be all closed up, or could you leave it open? I love roasted cauliflower, but am not a big fan of it steamed…
_Leila says
Somehow they do roast, even when closed up, but maybe with cauliflower (which does cook quickly) you need to leave it open. Or use the basket and just cut them up big.
Amy says
I look forward to our library book sales (there are 2) all year. I have a large basket that holds my books. I do admit some go back so other can buy next time, most get stowed away on one of 4 bookshelves.
Also my son LOVED (still has it) Cars, Cars Cars. So simple and colorful, its wonderful.
womanofthehouse says
Sounds like a perfect day! We love library sales too. We've moved to a new town and don't know when they have sales here, but we will be there when they do! Our kids loved Winnie the Pooh, and I don't know how many times we read The Runaway Bunny and Goodnight, Gorilla to them. Seeing the books brings back happy memories. 🙂 I read Miss Pickerell in elementary school and just bought an old copy of Miss Pickerell Goes to Mars. I liked all your book choices. And don't worry about buying books when you're out of bookshelf space. A true booklover is always out of space but doesn't let that stop her from buying something good when she sees it! You'll make room somehow. 🙂
Magda says
I've added the first Miss Pickerell book to my to-read list. I just finished reading The Trumpeter of Krakow and returned it to the library! It won the Newbery Medal in 1929.
The Ipps says
I am drooling over all those great kid book finds, especially because they are hardcover. We LOVE books and I purchased a cheap bookself, but am sad it will just be ruined in another military move this Sept. Good sturdy, solid bookshelves are like books, they are worth the money, but hard hard to find.
_Rosie says
So true!
ann turner says
Have you tried the folding bookshelves from Office Depot or Staples? They are easy to move because they go flat. Ever more expensive, but maybe worth the investment?
_Leila says
I'm going to edit the post above to include this information, because I keep meaning to put it in its own post, but this one seems appropriate.
You can subscribe to a “book sale finder” service — it's free and sends you an email each week about book sales in your area. It helps when you don't want to spend the time figuring out for yourself where the big sales are — and all the libraries subscribe to it.
Here's the link: http://www.booksalefinder.com/
Happy hunting!
Laura Jeanne says
Rosie, I really enjoyed reading this post. It's not possible to get a more perfect Saturday, than one that includes a library book sale. 🙂
Sadly for me, the library where I live doesn't do big sales any more. Instead of “fill a bag for $2,” which used to be so much fun, they have a cart of books for sale in each branch. I think it's $2 for softcovers, $4 for hardcovers–I kid you not! But it's okay, because if they had kept having those big yearly sales my tiny house would be quite overflowing with books. Well, it is anyway, but it would be worse. Not that I would mind. 😉
Mrs. Fordyce says
I love book sales, and the one you attended was obviously a good one! I will have to keep an eye out for the books by the author of Wind in the Willows. We just finished that one, and I would love to find more of his writing. Loved Miss Pickerel, have been collecting those books for years! Sounds like a perfect Saturday!
Emily says
Have you read The Reluctant Dragon? We just discovered that one and I'm really enjoying it (as is my 6yo). Great use of language, and the story is quite amusing.
Carol says
What a nice Saturday…we sit her in CA on a Saturday morning trying to figure out how to spend our day. No book sale this week, oh well!
What I want to know is where in the world did you find confession on a Saturday at 8am?!!! We can only find late Saturday afternoon when we want to be home chilling out. We are early birds and would LOVE a Saturday AM confession time!
RubberChickenGirl says
I dunno if anyone else commented on the charcoal tower thingy, but we finally broke down and bought a second one. If you have only one, you either cannot finish cooking your meat before the coals are dust OR you don't get to roast marshmallows which is tragic. So, the idea is to start one tower and use it and then start another while that first is cooking away. Of course, here it is 106 during the day and it barely drops into the 90's at night so no go on the bbq till fall.
RubberChickenGirl
RubberChickenGirl says
Note to self: duh! We actually did not buy the 2nd tower to make a 2nd batch of coals….as one could just dump the first and start a second. I believe we bought the 2nd cuz it was larger capacity than the first one we bought. Although, I am a space cadette and could very well have failed to think the whole thing through logically before investing in a 2nd tower. Much ado about nothing, but such is my life!
RCG
Lindsey in AL says
Sounds like a lovely Saturday to me! A special thanks to Auntie for posting that book sale link. Thankfully I have a husband who is fully supportive of my book accumulation habits since I tend to bring home between four and twelve books per week 😐 I will have to skip a few weeks if I plan to go to a big sale.
I think bringing your own syrup is FULLY acceptable. I'd probably bring my own pancakes too 😛
I have that copy of Winnie the Pooh and that copy of Dream Days. W the P is from my mother's childhood (a rarity; I also have her Charlotte's Web and those are probably all the books left from that time in her life), DD is a recent acquisition. I didn't know anything about it but recognized author and illustrator so it is mine now.
Pippo is so stinking cute. I soo enjoy your photos of him. He makes my baby seem too grown up (she's all of 13 months now) although she's still in the culinary stage of literary enjoyment too.
Heather says
Google “rain gutter bookshelf”. It's a great idea for a bookshelf for your little boy.
_Rosie says
I've seen those! I love the idea of those forward-facing shelves. I'm actually hoping to do something like that in addition to a bookcase in his room, since we would need a lot of rain gutters to handle all these books!
priest's wife says
The Kenneth Graham books are AMAZING and I am jealous you have them in hardback. My mom has paperback copies and I am sure all 5 siblings would squabble over them if we didn't have exlibris.com or half.com or the like. Enjoy them! I would say they are on par with George MacDonald
Harmony says
I so envy you your clearly superior library sale. When I lived in a university town they had quarterly library sales and I got some great stuff there. Now I live in the boonies and there are no sales within reasonable striking distance (I know for sure because of Aunt Leila's cool book sale finder! Looks like there might be one 60 miles away but I doubt the pickings would be worthwhile.) Those are some excellent hardback children's finds you've got there. One author I always was looking for in my book sale days was Rosemary Sutcliff, but now I just occasionally add to my Sutcliff shelf by shopping alibris. A lot more expensive.
Valerie says
Lucky you, to find all those books. Be not afraid: it doesn't take too long to acquire the absolute classics. It's a worry that they are so often unappreciated & discarded, especially by libraries! Lovely to see your wee boy growing up. Every blessing to you.
nt12many says
“He's just now getting past the purely culinary stage of literary appreciation” …a terrific quote which I will repeat (giving credit to you, of course)!
A wonderful post which brought back happy memories of Saturdays with my hubby and first born. The only thing more wonderful than a Saturday like the one you described will be when your children grow up and go to library sales with you and you have the joy of seeing them honing in on really good quality books all on their own! Then you will have the satisfaction of a job well done;).
Also loved the pictures of the baby (or young man!) craning his neck to look at his mama taking the picture!
Jill Farris ” target=”_blank”>http://www.generationalwomanhood.wordpress.com
MaryBeth says
love the post! I'm glad that the book that we gave Pippo is featured 😉
_Rosie says
It's a good one!
Anne says
aww, baby hippo is so big! sitting up all by himself…I can tell he misses his cousins.
Turner women too I'll admit! I feel a little ball of panic in my chest when I read about your children's books. Our collection is not coming along at nearly this rate! I'm falling behind! I'll never find all the good ones! My children will only have stupid books!!! Gah…checking out that library book sale finder. 🙂
That being said, John's mom did give us a lot of his books from when he was little, so that is a boost, though to be honest I don't recognize many of them.
_Rosie says
He does! They should come visit.
Provincial Homemaker says
What gorgeous books you have picked up. I would love to hear how The Golden Age is. So delightful to see Pippo enjoying a book.
Your division of labour at the library sale made me laugh. We do the same at the Lifeline bookfairs here in Australia, DH takes the adult section and I do the children's books. Then, he takes Ginger for a walk and I do a scout of the adult books. Ginger's pram comes in very handy because those books get heavy pretty fast.
Oh, and I totally understand the fear of not being able to get books you loved as a child for your own children. We were at a thrift shop the other week at a country town near here and they had a whole pile of books which had been discarded from the local primary school, though not lovely hardcovers like you picked up. I stocked up – they were childhood classics like Ramona and Olga da Polga – because I was scared that if this school was getting rid of them, so would every other one. Also, we are posting to the delightful climes of the tropical North come December and I just know there won't be any good booksales up there. We could be there for years and, if I don't stock up now, what will our children read!
Lori @ Momma's Hands says
From one homebody to another: Sounds like an exciting, wonderful day!!
Luv pictures of the lil' man! A Momma & her boy….such a special bond~
*And I must confess, I'm drooling over all the great books. I think it's time to check out our own library's sales!
Kelly says
I so enjoy reading the adventures of Mother and Daughters! Book sale tip: take a (you choose the size – we do LARGE) suitcase(s) on wheels to the library book sale! Voila! “Book mobile!”
_Rosie says
Good idea! This time we ended up with a box and two bags – the baby got kicked out of his stroller (he was awake by the time we were done) and the books went in there for the walk back to the car. 🙂
Mamabear, JD says
LOVE The Runaway Bunny! That last picture is gorgeous!
Barbara says
Pippo is a pumpkin. He reminds me so much of my own boys at that age. I love it when they are content to lie on their backs — before they learn the freedom of crawling and walking and they are content to just play on the blanket. Sweet, sweet!
RubberChickenGirl says
Amy Grant used to say that she was teaching her daughter oral hygiene with a toy car. ;O) She also called the playpen the Storm Tossed Ship. Just so you know.
Finally, do you have The Wild Washerwomen? Neither do I. I have intended to ever since I got it at the library when Josiah was 2 or so. (Free Wisdom: Time flies!) Now they are more plentiful but when I first went looking for a used hardback, they were rare and about $45: http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Washerwomen-John-Yeoma…
RCG
Sarah says
From one inveterate book collector to another: I too have books in boxes.
justamouse says
I absolutely hate it when I miss my library book sales. I understand the fretting completely. When we last relocated the movers were cursing all of the book boxes (packed small and light, of course). Not that I can help buying more. 🙂
And Pippo is getting so big, so fast.
Bethany says
I love a library sale myself, and haven't been to one in way too long, so reading about your Saturday was a treat. In fact, your day sounded basically like my ideal Saturday. And I totally sympathize with your lack of shelf space!
And I take a bottle of maple syrup out to breakfast with me. So it is done!
ann turner says
Two things: I just heard an npr interview with people who review diners. They were talking about a great diner just off exit 34 on the Merritt Parkway, great donuts and blueberry pancakes, but they don't charge enough to serve real maple syrup, so the lady being interviewed brings her own. So yes, BYOS is indeed donbe– on national radio!
And one more thing, I remember the highest form of culinary literary appreciation when one of mine– who shall remain nameless though he probably remembers at least the story if not the event– wept piteously when he was unable to eat the blueberry pie from the Three Little Kittens book we were reading.
Lovely post, green with envy at the perfect day.
Jeannie says
Your little man is Adorable. Your Saturday sounds perfect.
I ge the panic in my chest whenever I read books about books and the lists mention all of these books that are no longer in print.
Just reading about tri-tip is making me hungry and I just ate! No family BBQ or our own grilling dinners are complete without tri-tip.
shwell says
Rosie, if you have any interest in “The Country Bunny and the little gold shoes” let me know, just found one the other day and already have two copies