Blue and White, White and Blue...

...call me boring but I find these palettes so soothing and lovely. Maybe someday I'll step out of the white, cream and blue box.

Mystery Fix...

I love a mystery book. Just finished "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" by Alan Bradley and really enjoyed it...it's narrated by an 11 year old girl in post was London and it was just a fun, witty read.

I've been putting together a list of book recommendations for the library, as people frequently ask me for suggestions and I absolutely LOVE when I make a good match! I think I'll post my list here when I'm done...not a lot of mainstream books on the list, but that makes it all the more interesting. Have a wonderful weekend! And let me know what you're reading now and what you'd like to read.

Beach Reading...

This was SUPPOSED to be me this week. I took an entire week off from work and planned on lounging at the beach, book in hand, the entire time. Who knew it would rain EVERY SINGLE DAY??? I am enjoying the book "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" currently but it would be even better with some sand in it!
Other than that I did enjoy a lovely week of pure leisure. My girls finished school for Summer Break Friday and that always takes a lot of pressure off all of us...no early mornings, softball, band, etc. etc.
Here's to a wonderful, calm, happy, healthy Summer!

Dreamy

Dreamy, sandy, beachy days...

Artist Robert Rahway Zakanitch

Robert Rahway Zakanitch is my good friend Deb's cousin. His work is so incredibly varied...he's illustrated two children's books, created the theater curtain pictured above, has had various gallery/museum shows...just amazing! His textile paintings are so beautiful, I'm really enamored of his work.

On another note, I'm off from the Library this week...and the sun has finally shown her face. I am looking forward to doing a whole lot of nothing and now I can do some of it outside!!! Stack of books, here I come.

Atlantic and Ocean

Another Hunter McKee, this one on Atlantic Avenue in Long Branch. We lived right by these buildings for 10 years, my husband went to the barber shop which lived in the left hand storefront. The other side has been home to a few ventures over the past several years...a gourmet shop (delicious, short-lived), some sort of tech place (very short-lived) and it is now a surf shop which, as the ocean is directly to the left of these buildings and a new skate park has popped up behind them, may actually make it. There was a fantastic century old general store to the right of this set, but the moron who owned it knocked it down last year.

Sea Bright, NJ streetscape

This is a painting by Hunter McKee . Sea Bright is the most interesting, unique little town. It's on a kind of barrier strip, sandwiched between the Atlantic and the Shrewsbury River. There's everything from a really old fashioned hardware store to an upscale restaurant owned by Matt Bon Jovi. This painting is of a quiet little side street, unremarkable yet appealing.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Ok, today it's been raining like it will never end, but TOMORROW is supposed to be sunny, warm and gorgeous!!! I picked up a week-end bartending job for the summer at the Beach Club I used to go to, so good weather equals good money. Hope your week-end is wonderful!

By the Beautiful Sea

By the Sea, by the Sea, by the Beautiful Sea. Don't miss the MOTEL CHAIRS in the first pic. Love the simple lines and color schemes.

Hoboken

Hoboken...the town no one used to want to live in is now the town TO live in! My brother and sister in law had a penthouse right on the river, it was phenomenal. Incredible Manhattan view, a ferry 5 minutes away, and the fact that Hoboken itself has become such a great place to hang out!

Little Things

Just love the magical inscription on these porch steps (dare I even attempt such a thing?) and the loveliness which is a few simple flowers put in a milk bottle. Oh, the little things that make us happy...

English Seaside Dreams

Not sure why I'm obsessing over the English Seaside lately, especially since I live within walking distance to the Jersey Seaside, but it has such a different feel, no? There's something dream like about it, at least to my addled brain.
Did you notice the beach hut slipcovered chair in the third photo?
And the last one is of Blackpool Tower, I believe.

Lucky Library Girl, Thanks Mary Beth!

I LOVE coming to work and never in my wildest dreams thought I'd ever find a job which brings me so much happiness. I am separating the actual job from the politics which go on behine the scenes, those are no fun whatsoever and have caused me much UNhappiness. Which is why I'll take working with children any day over cranky ol' grown ups. Just for the record, I'll list some of the jobs I've held in the past:
1. Slave to upper East Side society woman-not enjoyable AT ALL but has given me plenty of material with which to amuse friends and family.

2. Waitress (not the best waitress you'll ever have, but managed to be amusing)

3. Front Desk/Office worker at a private beach club in Sea Bright NJ

4. Cleaning lady for the general population.

5. Cleaning lady/general house care for famous rock star.

6. Sales Coordinator at Dow Jones Financial Publishing

7. Receptionist at medical spa...job perks included free botox and hair removal laser. Doesn't get much better than that.

8. Library Assistant. My friend Mary Beth should get credit for this decision. She always told me I should work in a library. She graduated like 8th in our class. I graduated like 208th. I should've listened to Mare years ago!
9. This summer, I'll be adding Bartender to this list. Weekends will find me tending bar at a beach club in Long Branch.

***

The photos above are the of the Children's Room and exterior at the Branch Library I'm at 3 days a week. How could you not want to settle in for story time with those children? Seriously. I feel so lucky. Thanks, Mary Beth! You were right. I should work in a library!

New Jersey State Library...

My Barney Saltzberg story has made the New Jersey State Library Marketing News blog. I just love when good things happen!!!

http://nancydowd.wordpress.com/

Barney Saltzberg, my new hero

I evaluated Barney Saltzberg's book, "Cornelius P. Mud, Are You Ready For Baby?" for the Central Jersey Regional Library Cooperative. What a gem! I actually laughed aloud, which does happen occasionally but is still a notable response. This book hits new siblinghood right on the head. You must read it to see what I mean. I have long admired his books, they are just amazingly attuned to childhood, its trials and travails! So, I looked up Mr. Saltzberg's website, saw he has a blog, and left a comment on it. Lo and behold, the phone rings up here in the Children's Room of the Library, and it is Mr. Saltzberg. We had a great chat, hopefully I'll get to touch base again with him in the future.

To someone who reads children's books for a living, these moments are rock-star, Ben & Jerry's, over the moon, glow for a week wonderful.
May I suggest you, too, check out Mr. Saltzberg's work? http://www.barneysaltzberg.com/. You won't be disappointed. Unless, of course, you have no recollection of childhood, or you don't like children, or you think funny things should be illegal. Otherwise, I KNOW you will love Barney Saltzberg. More to follow with this story...

Vintage Motel Chairs

Spent Mother's Day painting the lavender and light green chairs. These chairs are my absolute downfall. I cannot bear to drive past one and not stop, jump out of my car and throw it on in to take home with me. MUCH to the chagrin of my 3 daughters ("Can you please not do this while we're in the car!") and my husband ("What exactly are you planning on doing with all these chairs?"). I have about 18 of these at this point, plus a double glider which needs a little repair.

Spent yesterday painting our front steps a periwinkle color...the neighbors commented favorably, I think, ("Looks great. Very...you.") The house has been a work in progress, over the past year and a half we added 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. So I'm finally getting around to all the garden planning/exterior colors which had been put on hold till the project was finished. I feel utter gratitude that we were able to do this, no whining about the contracting process from me.

Also, the first photo is not my yard, it's just my plan for my yard. Loving the border of plates! And, of course, the metal motel chair. Can't remember where I cribbed the picture from, sorry to not give credit where it is due!

OK, I gave in...

and put a playlist on here. Sorry, just could NOT help myself!!!

What can I say? There's no defense.

Just some more snippets from my imaginary home...how great are those stools at the kitchen island?

It's Only A Paper Moon...

...sailing over a cardboard sea...

Feeling so melancholic tonight. Wonder what that's about?

Say, its only a paper moon

Sailing over a cardboard sea

But it wouldn't be make-believe

If you believed in me

Yes, it's only a canvas sky

Hanging over a muslin tree

But it wouldn't be make-believe

If you believed in me

Without your love

It's a honky-tonk parade

Without your love

It's a melody played in a penny arcade

It's a Barnum and Bailey world

Just as phony as it can be

But it wouldn't be make-believe

If you believed in me

What great lyrics.