Free Fun || Public Library

Free Fun || Public Libraries

Anyone who loves books must surely love libraries, right?  The library in my hometown wasn't the greatest.  It always smelled musty and dusty, and it wasn't very big.  But, as a kid, I loved checking out the Boxcar Children Series, The Hardy Boys, and the "Eddie" books (my favorites).  Free books!  What's not to love?

I didn't know what to expect from the Dothan public library.  Dothan isn't a "small" town, but it isn't a big city, either.  I don't know what happened to the original library building, but apparently it has recently been rebuilt.

It's pretty large and new looking.  I love the wide open space and large windows.  They had a very good selection of books and I ended up checking out 5 books!  They had a separate room for children's books and a play area.  And there were many computers, desks, and comfy reading-chairs.  I look forward to going back!

I tried to take some sneaky pictures without anyone noticing.

I added a pirate book, "for Peter," but we all know I'm going to love it. lol

I've already read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and highly recommend it.  I haven't heard of City of Glory or City of Promise before, and I'm not sure if they're a series and which comes first, or if it really matters.  The Last Runaway looks pretty good - Civil War meets Quaker woman... Would you like me to post reviews of these books when I'm done?

Do you ever go to your city's public library?

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5 Happy Things

|| 5 HAPPY THINGS ||

1 ||  I've started The Stretch Project with Cassey from Blogilates.  I'm also going to try to get through the entire beginner's calendar this summer.  I don't expect to do it every day, but I'll do as much as I can.

2 ||  I read this book (free download) a few months ago and loved it.  I think I'm going to buy the sequel and read it this summer.  Do you have any other book recommendations for me?

3 ||  I want to make this and this.  Anyone want to come over and craft with me???

4 ||  I've been loving my art journal challenge so far.  Here is a sneak peek at one of this week's pages.  Check back tomorrow for the full week's rundown.

5 ||  Our doggie makes me smile.  I'm so glad I have "someone" to keep me company during this summer.  I get really bored when I'm home alone!  He loooooooves riding in the car!

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P.S. I may have found the perfect planner, (to use for work, overview lesson planning, organizing field trips, etc.) but I don't know how I feel about spending $55 plus shipping.  Any advice?

The Advantage of a Bath

Do you prefer baths or showers?

I've heard there are many advantages to taking baths.

They can help relieve certain skin conditions, infuse good things into your body (depending on what you choose to soak in), and are generally relaxing.

I love taking baths.

I just now realized one particular reason why I love baths so much.

I've made it about half way through one of my favorite books in the past 2 days, merely by reading during my nightly baths.

I don't take electronics into the bathroom (ever since 2009 when I accidentally dropped my cell phone into the toilet...), so baths are a time when I'm forced to read "real" books.  If I'm just sitting on my couch I might be surfing the web, watching YouTube, grading papers, or listening to music.  But in the bath, I read.

This week I've been re-reading a few books from the Mitford series, by Jan Karon.  They are some of my favorite books.  Why does a 20-something-year-old love books about a 60 year old Episcopal priest?  I don't know, there's just something about the books that are so endearing.

Anyway, thanks for letting me share my recent revelation.  Now I'm off to read some more!

XOXO,

Julie

I judge books by their covers

Not gonna lie - I have nothing to blog about today.  I was busy most of the day and now I'm too bored and lazy to write an awesome post.  So I'll just fill the space with something random and hope you're bored enough to read it. haha!

Confession: I am a sucker for packaging.  I buy products based on how they look.  I am the reason companies spend millions of dollars on marketing and advertising.  

Today I am totally judging these books by their covers.*

Because they made me chuckle:

Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Because they look "smart:"

Coolidge

Eliot Ness: The Rise and Fall of an American Hero

Because they look "artistic:"

The Sea Close by

The Wapshot Chronicle (Perennial Classics)

Because the title "popped:"

The Bear: A Novel

Because they're pretty:

If I had a diary like this, I'd write amazing things every day.  From here

From here

From here

Do you judge books by their covers?

Are you bored today like I am??


XO,

Julie

*Please note: I have not read all of these books and I am not necessarily promoting them.

Note: This post contains affiliate links.  Read my disclaimer here.

Do You Know About: Free Online Books?

Check out these sites, search for a topic that interests you, and get to reading! 

Here are some things I'm excited about reading online, for free!  Of course all my selections are music related, but these sites have books on every topic, including novels.

From Internet Archive I'm enjoying the Music Lovers Encyclopedia (1903)

From Project Gutenburg I'm excited about starting On Conducting: A Treatise on Style in the Execution of Classical Music by Richard Wagner

From Open Library I found this interesting thing: Dwight's Journal of Music (1855)

I have to be honest, I don't really enjoy reading from my computer.  Some of these sites have the option of saving as a PDF and opening on a tablet or kindle.  I am going to try to save a bunch to my iPad. 

What are you going to read about next?

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: A Novel

I just finished reading the cutest book.  It has been awhile since I've read a book that I couldn't put down.  Mainly because graduate school doesn't leave much free time for pleasure reading.  I really don't have the time, now, either, but I couldn't resist!  My grandma gave me this book last year and I just now got around to reading it.  I don't know what took me so long!  It is adorable!  

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