A Handful of Happy Things
23 May 2014
I went to the library today and picked up these gems. In Berkeley it was nearly impossible to check out anything that had come out in the last 2-3 years from the public library. But here…I can pull them right off the (new!) book shelf! There are still waiting lists for new books, of course, but they are not as long as in Berkeley. Going to the library makes me so ridiculously happy. Ours is a lovely historical one, and I’ve got the layout pretty much memorized. Sometimes I just go wandering around some interesting section until I see something that catches my eye. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: there’s nothing like the shock of exhilaration that a library provides, one million possible worlds to explore, all at your fingertips.
I officially inaugurated summer by making my favorite corn and tomato galette yesterday. This is just the filling as it’s cooling. And the whole thing is long gone now. I can’t wait to grill zucchini and corn and peppers all summer long.
Eric had an observing run at Palomar this week, but thankfully I wasn’t too lonely because I had my book club meeting. I haven’t been able to go hang out with these lovely and intelligent people since before I was pregnant, due to being so sick. We had a wonderful time, and Rusty made a cherry clafoutis that was just out of this world. Eric came home this evening bearing so many treasures. He got some fruit and honey at our favorite farm stand, and he brought back all kinds of amazing bulk from Winco in Pomona. Groats! Forbidden rice! Golden raisins! Multi-grain couscous! Whole wheat penne pasta! He showed me all of his plunder, and then we *exulted* over how extraordinarily cheap the whole haul was, especially considering that most of these things are specialty items. Let’s just say that it would have cost at least twice as much at Whole Foods, if not more. Sometimes it’s hilarious how similar we are, and how much we value the same things.
To top off the happiness, we got a package in the mail from my Besfrinn! It was basically an entire baby shower in one box! My Besfrinn is getting ready to make a major move with her family to start a new job, and I cannot even fathom how she had time to put together and send this package while packing her whole household, keeping an eye on her two-year-old, and working remotely. I felt so very loved. And she sent such awesome stuff: books and clothes and cloth diapers and lots of other things we’ll need. It’s been a very happy couple of days indeed. Hope you all have a great weekend!
May 23, 2014 @ 06:34:07
So many good looking things in this post! and I too am a library junkie, not a very popular place to go to in Italy, but when I moved to England I got a library card from the three nearest libraries to make up for the time lost. Still one of my favourite places to wonder and get inspired. Happy weekend to you too. xxx
May 26, 2014 @ 22:30:14
Thank you so much! The library is an instant mood lifter, I think:) No matter how poor we may be, we are rich in books. I hope you had a great weekend and that the moving process is going smoothly! XOXO to the four of you!
May 23, 2014 @ 07:33:42
What grand fun! Also, such a sweet idea–baby shower in a box!!! What a love of a friend. 🙂
May 26, 2014 @ 22:30:33
She definitely is! Super thankful for her:)
May 23, 2014 @ 08:29:35
I’m curious to know what you received in that package of wonderfulness-looks like such pretty wrappings 🙂
May 26, 2014 @ 22:31:47
I loved the wrapping too! I would like a dress in that fabric, with the same yellow ribbon for a belt:) The box was full of clothes and cloth diapers and diaper creams and shampoo and a lot of other useful stuff. So fantastic, and I could not believe how much stuff was in there!
May 23, 2014 @ 14:29:48
Definitely a bounty of fun at your fingertips! Enjoy!!!
May 26, 2014 @ 22:32:16
Thank you! I hope you are enjoying some warmer weather! Love seeing your adventures and am so impressed by your running!
May 24, 2014 @ 11:07:59
You have hit the jackpot in every way possible!
May 26, 2014 @ 22:32:30
Truer words have never been spoken:)
May 26, 2014 @ 14:32:22
I know what you mean about the waiting lists at the library in Berkeley; whenever I want something, I always end up being number 150 out of 151 holds or something ridiculous like that. I do find that it’s easier to get the e-books out of the library, although I still prefer the real thing to my Kindle.
And yay for a red-letter mail week! You made mine with the necklace and I’m glad that your kindness was paid back in full with the baby shower in a box (hmm, that in and of itself could be a great business idea. I feel like TM-ing it here, but I have the feeling it’s probably already been done)! 🙂
May 26, 2014 @ 22:39:01
I was always that far back on the lists! Some books have those long lists here too, for sure, but now I am starting to put a request in as soon as I read about a book in the New Yorker or the NYT, while it’s still on order. That seems to help! So glad you liked the necklace! It is seriously so perfectly you:) Yes, it probably is trademarked somewhere! But if not, anyone who reads here can have the idea for free:)
Jun 01, 2014 @ 07:47:31
I fondly recall when our Winco opened here a couple of years ago. SUPER LOVE!!!! I shop there every two weeks at least.
Jun 01, 2014 @ 23:14:56
I wish ours were closer! Eric took lots of pictures, and it just seriously looked amazing!