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HANK
PHILLIPPI RYAN: Is it snowing where you are? We were BURIED, earlier this week,
But hey, it’s New England. But you know, if bet if I took a little whiff of
that orange gel Bain de Soleil, I might be transported. And when I wear the ivory leather jacket I got
in Florence—well, I am back on the Ponte Vecchio.
Our dear
Carol Pouliot has been thinking about what conjures her favorite memories. See
if you agree.
First of all
let me say how thrilled I am to be here with the wonderful Jungle
Red Writers.
A sincere thank you to Hank Phillippi Ryan
for inviting me to stop by today.
In the midst
of the holidays and most of the country already
in the grip of winter weather, summer vacation is a fond memory. But . . . we do have our souvenirs.
The French verb
se souvenir de means “to remember.”
That is exactly what our travel treasures are. They elicit those carefree times,
when we pack away our everyday problems and pack our suitcases instead. Now,
when we gaze on the shells that we picked up on the beach, we hear the roar of
the ocean, feel the heat of the sun on our skin, and smell the salt in the air.
When we uncork that special bottle of Bordeaux and unwrap the brie or
camembert, we are transported back to the Paris métro and its signature aromas
of garlic, Gauloises, and wine. And
when we don the cherished baseball cap, we can still hear the crack of the bat
and the cheering fans; we can practically taste the hot dogs.
When I was
sixteen, I went on a school trip to New York City. It was the first time I
travelled without my parents. I was thrilled beyond expression to be in this
most glamorous and exciting of cities. During our visit to the Museum of
Natural History, I saw things I never imagined existed. My mind exploded with
curiosity about archeological digs, ancient cultures, foreign lands, and
dinosaurs! I still have the souvenir I bought in the gift shop. It’s a tiny bronze
statue of a rooster, Pre-Columbian in design. I have had this statue on my desk
for over 50 years. Every time I look at it, I am back in that place, in that
time. I can smell the crisp spring air mixing with the diesel fuel from
vehicles crowding the streets and the pretzels sold on every other corner. I
hear the blaring horns, squealing brakes, and shouting people. I feel alive.
We all have
our favorite things to bring back. People collect salt and pepper shaker sets,
rocks and shells, t-shirts, mugs, and refrigerator magnets. Many of us purchase
an addition to a personal collection. I’ve collected statues of owls since I
was a freshman in college. I usually buy one unique to the city or country I’m
visiting−sculpted from lava rock, hand-painted
ceramic, blown glass, carved wood. For years, I bought a purse in every
foreign city I visited. Yes, some women like shoes, I go for the leather bags.
And since I never lost that yearning for exotic locales and archeological digs, I have a small collection of things I’ve picked up off the ground: a piece of limestone from the Great Pyramid at Giza, a tiny bottle of sand that I scooped up in the Sahara Desert, a black volcanic rock from the Minoan eruption of Thera, a stone from Mycenae, and one from Troy that I like to think dates back to 1300 BC.
And since I never lost that yearning for exotic locales and archeological digs, I have a small collection of things I’ve picked up off the ground: a piece of limestone from the Great Pyramid at Giza, a tiny bottle of sand that I scooped up in the Sahara Desert, a black volcanic rock from the Minoan eruption of Thera, a stone from Mycenae, and one from Troy that I like to think dates back to 1300 BC.
But, despite all these beautiful and intriguing objects that
I’ve picked up or purchased, my number one souvenir continues to be the
photographs I’ve taken. Years ago, I established “My Dining Room Wall,” a
display of framed 8x10 photos that I’ve taken. When I return from a trip,
friends and family ask, “What’s the new dining room wall picture?” It’s become
a conversation starter. The space gets crowded so I rotate them from time to
time. I also print out all the best shots and keep an actual, physical album
with the pictures pasted in and captions under each. Old school but I love it.
In Threshold of Deceit,
the 2nd book of my time-travel mystery series, 21st-century
Olivia Watson travels back to 1934 to spend some time with Depression-era cop
Steven Blackwell. As a former reporter, Olivia is a news junkie. She can’t wait
to get lost in the local newspaper shop and buy as many newspapers and
magazines she can get her hands on. Those and a stack of comic books, to feed
her inner child, will be her souvenirs from that incredible trip.
Let’s do a give-away. Every comment is entered to win a copy
of Threshold of Deceit, A Blackwell andWatson Time-Travel Mystery.
HANK: Oh,
this is great! And your dining room wall is such a great idea! Like a room
sized photo album. I have little trinkets from all over—including lots of
elegant stationery from hotels in Florence and Milan. I should use it, but I
can’t bring myself to. Matches. And postcards! And shells. And a billion little
soaps. And little bath gels from Paris. How about you reds and readers? What are your favorite souvenirs? And Carol, why owls?
About the Author
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A Francophile at age 11,
Carol Pouliot dreamed of getting her passport and going to Paris. After
obtaining her MA in French at Stony Brook University, she headed to France for
her first teaching job. She taught French and Spanish for over 30 years in
Upstate New York. She also founded and operated an agency that provided translations in over 24 languages. Carol is the
author of The Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mystery series, which includes Doorway to Murder (Book 1) and Threshold of Deceit (Book 2). When not
working on her series, Carol can be found reaching for her passport and packing
a suitcase for her next adventure. Find Carol at
THRESHOLD OF DECEIT
On a sunny spring day in
1934, local lothario Frankie Russo is murdered in broad daylight. It seems no
one saw anything, but things are not always what they seem in this small New
York town.
Tackling the
investigation, Detective Steven Blackwell discovers Frankie’s little black
book, a coded list of dozens of flings, affairs, and one-night stands−and a solid motive for the widow. Soon, what appeared
to be a straight-forward case gets complicated. A witness goes missing, a second body turns up, the victim’s
cousin disappears, and an old flame surfaces. Faced with conflicting pieces of evidence, lies, and false alibis,
Steven creates a psychological portrait of the killer. He realizes he’s looking
for someone wearing a mask. But the killer is not the only one in
disguise.
Two months ago, Steven came
face-to-face with 21st-century journalist Olivia Watson when time
folded over in the house they share−80
years apart. They’ve experimented within the safety of its walls and proven Einstein was right: there is no
past, present, or future. All time exists simultaneously. Now, Steven and
Olivia test the boundaries of time travel, risking the exposure of their secret.
Olivia travels to Steven’s time, where she is embraced by the community, unaware of who she really is. She unwittingly falls in with Steven’s main suspect,
putting her life in jeopardy.
This is fascinating, Carol. I never really thought about collecting specific things from the places I visited [but, yes, I do collect things: angels and Precious Moments and books and anything space-related]. I love that Olivia’s going to collect comic books! Can you tell us a bit about the story?
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting and diverse collection, Joan. The story? It began last winter when time folded over in the house that Steven and Olivia share. He lives there in 1934, she in the present day. Olivia had done some research on time and was familiar with Einstein's theory that there is no past, present, or future. All time exists simultaneously and time can fold over to reveal "another" time. Steven's a cop through-and-through so he needed evidence, concrete proof to prove what she thought they might be experiencing. Since then, they have become good friends and have learned to travel back and forth to each other's time. In the 2nd book, Threshold of Deceit, Olivia takes a big risk and leaves the house in 1934 for the first time. Needless to say, all kinds of adventures follow!
DeleteWhere do you keep your angels, Joan? I bet they are so pretty!
DeleteThe angels just sort of live everywhere, Hank; it all depends on how big they are. The angel dolls have their own place and several tall display cases hold angels and Precious Moments pieces . . . .
DeleteIt is almost impossible to resist picking up souvenirs. I still look for interesting sea shells on any beach I land on. And fossils and rocks elsewhere. Ceramics and a leather skirt in Spain. Ceramics from Roatan. A tweed jacket and linen tea towels from Ireland. A warm vest and a cashmere sweater from Scotland. And tea towels. And tea towels from London. I’m leaning towards more practical and portable souvenirs now. I did get a couple of cotton blouses and scarves in India. And of course we hit the duty free for liquor!
ReplyDeleteWe have similar taste, Pat. I love wearing clothes I've bought in Paris or London. Every time I put something on, I get that special feeling. I haven't brought back tea towels, but on my first trip to England many years ago, I brought back several pub towels. I still use them in the kitchen.
DeleteYes, rocks. SO wise when you have to carry things back.. :-)
DeleteHank, when I came home from my first overseas, I naively put several rocks in my suitcase. I had to pay for the extra weight in my suitcase! Duh. Now, I know better.
DeleteFunny this topic should come up now. My family collects Christmas ornaments as souvenirs. I love unpacking my ornaments since they hold such great memories.
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrific idea, Mark! It's a shame you can't see them all year around. I can imagine the joy you must feel every winter when you trim the Christmas tree. Do the ornaments have the place name on them?
DeleteYes, so fun to take each one out each year!
DeleteSome do have the place name on them, others are fairly obvious where they are. But there are a few each year that we have to remember where we got them from.
DeleteThat's a really neat idea for a collection, Mark. It adds another dimension to your tree-trimming.
DeleteI like handmade things, and my everyday dishes are a collection of handmade pottery, so I bring home mugs and plates and wonderful bowls. Now, when I return home after an epic road trip, I can sip my morning tea and say, "This mug is an original Claudia Dunaway, from Burnsville, North Carolina," and be right back in those beautiful mountains.
ReplyDeleteCool! I bought some teapots in the Cotswolds one year. I hesitate to use them because I was never sure if they were ornamental or could take the boiling water. Maybe I'll be inspired by you and try one. Thanks, Gigi!
DeleteOf course they can take boiling water, Carol! Water boils at 212 degrees F. Stoneware is fired at more than 2,000 degrees F. As long as the glaze is lead-free/food safe, you should be able to enjoy your teapots in cozy peace. I hope you do!
DeleteI'd be surprised if an English teapot wasn't functional, Carol. Give it a try!
DeleteThanks, Deb. I will!
DeleteGigi, you make excellent points!! Teapots, here I come.
DeleteI love the dining room wall!
ReplyDeleteI have all sorts of souvenirs, but I think my most evocative are the shells I collected while in Puerto Rico and St. Croix. They are in my powder room downstairs, and every time I look at them I'm back on those soft, sandy beaches with the smell of salt water in my nose and soft, warm breezes on my face.
Thanks, Liz. I love my dining room wall, too. But, you can't beat the smell of the ocean and the feel of sand between your toes - especially as I look out the window right now at the snow.
DeleteBut you have to make sure you remember where the shells came from...
DeleteWhen my mother was alive, I always brought back Christmas ornaments for her from my travels. If it's for me, it's usually books about the history of where I'm visiting. And bookmarks -- I always pick up a bookmark either representing the city or a bookstore I visit. Carol, it's good to see you here. I hope you are comfortable at home today and not stuck in an airport somewhere, as you and I were in Dallas at the end of Bouchercon! Meeting and talking with you made that horrible delay much more bearable.
ReplyDeleteChris!! I'm so happy to see you. I hope you are safe and sound at home, too. If it hadn't been for you, that wait would have been unbearable. I really enjoyed our conversation. Ok, now back to our souvenirs haha. I bring back a lot of books, too. Usually by the time I get home after lugging all that weight around, I wonder why! But, I read and enjoy them over and over again. I never thought of bookmarks. Great idea!
DeleteAnd coasters! Nice, because like bookmarks, so easy to pack!
DeleteCoasters, yes! I have a bunch from pubs in England.
DeleteBooks (of course!) and photo books. We've had the latter made by Shutterfly for a couple of trips, which makes it easy to share the experience without having guests glaze over:)
ReplyDeleteI love looking at photo books!
DeleteI love photo albums. One of my friends does the Shutterfly ones. They look beautiful. My problem is that I can never decide which ones to use. I take way too many pictures, Lucy.
DeleteWhat I bring back from travels depends on the place, I have some aprons, tea towels, place mats depicting a city, books. I tend to buy practical things but my last souvenir is a boomerang from Australia where I learned to throw it.
ReplyDeleteThreshold of Deceit seems very interesting. Bonne journée.
Teatowels! SUCH a good idea!
DeleteA boomerang! Now that's fun, Danielle. I bet it starts lots of conversations. Thanks for the good wishes on Threshold.
DeleteWhy owls, Hank? When I bought the first one, I just liked the look of it. It's a small smoothly-carved wooden statue with gold eyes made out of glass. Over the years, I've become fascinated by these gorgeous creatures. I'm attracted to their beauty, strength, and majesty.
ReplyDeleteSO lovely!
DeleteCongratulations on your new release!
ReplyDeleteI have no wall space, but I love your photo wall. I use a photo from the year's travels for our annual Christmas card. This year, Egypt and Jordan.
During our fall trips, I knock off my Christmas shopping for the family. I also buy the kids Christmas ornaments in every place, though finding them in Muslim countries wasn't easy. I finally settled for a string of pretty fabric camels to drape on the tree or hang in a window.
And for me? A museum magnet I stick on the dishwasher when it's running. I rotate through famous paintings, a stained glass window and unicorn tapestry from Paris, a red London bus, and this year's acquisition, a golden mummy case. My daily reminder.
Oh, I love the magnet idea!
DeleteMargaret, I LOVE ALL your ideas! I always enjoy getting a Christmas card with a photograph. It's a great way to share the trip. I like to do most of my holiday and birthday shopping on trips, too. Friends and family get truly one-of-a-kind gifts that way.
DeleteThese are such great comments! Those Shutterfly books, or whoever makes them, are so incredible!
ReplyDeleteThey look awesome, Hank. But HOW do people choose among all their wonderful photos? I can never decide so I paste all of mine in old-fashioned scrap books.
DeleteAnd I can’t resist taking those little soaps from hotels, especially if they are in another language. But… I never use them :-)
ReplyDeleteBooks, yes. Something from the local history section of a bookshop, or a lavishly illustrated book from a museum. Such as a history of Brunellesci's Dome in Florence, or memoirs of gutsy pioneering women on Vancouver Island.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an intriguing series, Carol. As a time travel junkie, I know just what I would do: buy out of print books and catch a lot of great shows.
I love time travel too!
DeleteOut-of-print books is a terrific idea, Susan. Olivia's BFF is a curator at a history museum. She wants Olivia to bring back all kinds of things for the collection. The only problem is that they all look brand new!!
DeleteWhat a great post! I’m very excited for your book. I love time folds. I’m not a huge souvenir girl, but I do buy a refrigerator magnet from everywhere I go which makes me smile when I reach for the milk.
ReplyDeleteYou all have me thinking about magnets..
DeleteThanks, Jenn. A friend of mine has a special magnetic map of the United States that goes on the fridge. In every state that she and her husband visit, they buy the state magnet to add to the map. Their map is now full!
DeleteJenn’s magnets reminded me that I buy lapel pins I stick on a hat. Most are domestic but a few are foreign. Most recent one was for the London Underground. The hat is too unwieldy to wear now but it’s an interesting reminder of places and events.
ReplyDeleteSO cool!
DeleteThat's a neat idea, Pat! I bet you smile every time you walk by the hat.
DeleteCarol, I am so pleased to 'meet' you, I love time travel so will go and hunt for your books. Time travel and souvenirs could describe my life though I haven't gone to another century. My travel started when I was four and my father took a job in Trinidad after WWll. On the boat going out another passenger was taking a teddy bear as a gift for her sister in the USA, but she let me play with it, and before we docked gave the bear to me and I still have him. For some reason the bear has always been a 'he', but being a small girl I dressed him in dresses which my mother sewed for him. I still have him so many years later. I have shells from many places but the oldest is a conch shell I picked up on the beach in Tobago, which sits by the front door of each of my homes in turn. I don't collect to build a collection but usually something catches my eye. Ssmall elephants from Ceylon, a glass dish from Crete, carved heads from Africa, a pearl pendant from Singapore to celebrate my first, and last professional teaching engagements out of the USA, gloves from Italy plus the pepper mill I bought on my 21st birthday trip to Florence which we use daily. I like made objects, not mass produced. But I'm glad your heroine, Carol, is safely between the covers of your story, as collecting newsprint, magazines etc makes me feel cold with the thought that some day her house would need to be de cluttered; that can be wrenching work.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, gotta get rid of ALL the magazines...
DeleteI'd love to see all those precious keepsakes, Celia. You've traveled extensively. How wonderful! Yes, Olivia certainly wasn't thinking of future clutter when she bought the armful of newspapers and magazines!
DeleteYour photos are wonderful and what a beautiful collection of souvenirs. When I travel I try to buy something special and unique from the area. Either a magnet or an artifact.
ReplyDeleteYes, hard to resist!
DeleteThank you, Fellow Traveler! I always think the the size or money paid has absolutely nothing to do with the beautiful memories our souvenirs hold. A shell off the beach is as good as something expensive. Both take us back to that place.
DeleteMemories are fascinating.
ReplyDeleteLong ago ( in high school, back with the dinosaurs) my mother and I traveled to Ireland, England, and Scotland. Our hotel in Dublin had a hall into the back to the rear elevator. This took us past the kitchen area which had a distinctive aroma.
Some years later we tried a new food product: frozen Mrs. Paul's apple fritters. The smell of them cooking sent me right back to that hotel hall. It was magic!
Libby, you are so right! I think smells are the strongest memories of all. They bring us right back to that time and place.
DeleteThe madeleines!
DeleteWhen we visited Italy many years ago I bought a photo of the town where we were staying and framed it. Now I can gaze at it everyday. Your photo wall is exceptional as are all your precious souvenirs.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Petite! Italy is a beautiful country.
DeletePerfect!
DeleteI brought back some great souvenirs from my first ever trip when I went to Germany. A little cuckoo clock, a soccer jersey (they were hosting the World Cup that summer), a couple beautiful ornaments. My favorite is a simple necklace from a street festival that I still wear all the time, as it reminds me of a great summer.
ReplyDeletekozo8989@hotmail.com
Your souvenirs from Germany sound wonderful, Alicia. A fun mix of different kinds of things.
DeleteOh, when we went to Paris, we wen to the Pavarotti, Carreras and DOmingo concert on the Champs de Mars--I still wear that t-shirt!
DeleteThe book sounds wonderful, right up my alley. As for remembering, it's scents, and the smell of the Christmas tree we just brought home is one of them, along with the smell of fresh baked cookies. So many this time of year! Oh, and especially eggnog!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rick. Yes, I agree. Aromas have the power to transport us to any time and any place in our past.
DeleteAnd sunscreen!
DeleteCoppertone.
DeleteCarol, I absolutely love your "folded time" premise. What a great concept! I'm going to start with Doorway to Murder!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love your photo wall. I must say you're much more organized in your souvenir collecting than I am! For years, every time I went to London I bought a London Transport poster--until I ran out of wall space. Then I bought teapots--until I ran out of display space. Now I just pick up the odd thing that resonates for that particular visit. Last month it was a tea towel from Le Cordon Bleu, London; a Nigel Slater book (English cook and food writer) from The London Review Bookshop; and a gorgeous red knit alpaca hat from the hat shop at the top of Earl's Court Road. Each one takes me back instantly to the place and day I bought them!
Thanks, Deb!! I hope you enjoy Doorway to Murder. I love England and covet your London Transport posters. The artwork is always gorgeous!
DeleteI might be organized but I'm not always smart about it. I bought a handmade Turkish rug in Istanbul a few years ago. Things got messed up at the airport check-in and before I knew it, instead of checking it, I CARRIED it all the way home. OMG! Thank goodness it was in a very compact package, wrapped very well. And it's only a 5x7 and not any bigger. I love it though.
Love the idea of the set of posters--great!
DeleteHardly anything captures the imagination quite as much as the idea of time travel!
ReplyDeleteMy new study has a wall of shelves that were in my in-laws' home. In addition to the books there I also have souvenirs of trips I've taken, or gifts from family members' trips: a tiny plate from China, a ceramic Andes cross and a pair of ceramic bulls from Peru, a lovely carved statue and bowl from Tanzania, a photo of my husband in the Arctic Circle, a photo of the two of us beneath the Eiffel Tower, a lump of jade from Jade Beach in California, shells from Newcastle in Australia, and Aboriginal dot paintings from Australia. Plus, pillow covers I bought in Paris and Florence on the couch. It's my room of memories!
Your "room of memories, Karen - what a beautiful way to describe it. And it sounds beautiful, too. It's a great idea to have everything in one space. You must just love being in that room.
DeleteI agree--I insist it COULD work.
DeleteI think my comment got lost in time travel - maybe we'll see it in a few years! Like a lot of others I also try to find Christmas ornaments when I travel. They remind me every year of wonderful trips I have taken. I also used to get magnets but that become a bit much.
ReplyDeleteLOLOL Good one, Judi! I'll have to start looking for Christmas ornaments. That's a terrific idea. I don't do magnets anymore either. Instead I put a picture from the trip on the fridge.
DeleteJudi, my late father-in-law used to buy Christmas ornaments at the many, many places he would travel to. Then he would give them to us! It was a win-win: he got to see his mementos every year, but didn't have to store them at his small house, and we got lovely ornaments we could easily keep in our attic.
DeleteOooh..when will it show up??
DeleteToo funny, Hank and Judi. Now, we'll have to be on the look-out in all future posts. HA!
DeleteCarol one of my favorite things is genre-blending fiction, so I'm excited to start your series with DOORWAY TO MURDER. It feels as if, after a long period when mystery readers didn't want any chocolate in their peanut butter (so to speak) we're breaking out with crime stories mixed with science fiction, fantasy, horror and other types of fiction. I think it enriches everyone!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julia, for that beautiful thought. I hope you enjoy Doorway to Murder. I had a lot of fun writing it. I agree. Life is full of "mixtures" for lack of a better word. Why not mix it up in mysteries?
DeleteI used to look for hand painted tiles as souvenirs- small flat unique easy to pack and useful. Now my souvenirs are food ... best way to time travel imhop. Gin from Holland. Hazelnuts from the Pacific Northwest- chocolates from London.
ReplyDeleteI’m a time travel fan I can see I’ll have to add Carol’s book to my TBR pile
Yum!
DeleteThanks, Hallie. I hope you enjoy it when you get to it in your stack. Who doesn't like food, right? Years ago on my 2nd trip to England, I rented a car and was able to shop as the English do - stopping in "normal" stores. My mother and I had recently begun reading Martha Grimes's Richard Jury series and were in love with the characters. I brought back a 4-pack of Theakston's Old Peculiar (a favorite of Melrose Plant) and a package of fairy cakes (which Agatha consumes non-stop). I invited my parents over and we tasted everything along with a pot of tea. Best travel gift ever!!
DeleteHallie, I brought back a tin of Spanish paprika from a wonderful Spanish deli in Liverpool!
DeleteCarol, welcome to Jungle Reds and congratulations on your book! I want to read your book.
ReplyDeleteHank, this is a great topic!
Because I only have carry on baggage, it is challenging to find a souvenier that I would like to bring home. Whenever I travel. I send postcards to myself. I love collecting postcards from my trips abroad.
Diana
Brilliant! You get the souvenir and don't have to pack it! PLUS >>TIME TRAVEL<< because you receive something from yourself during another time...Ooooh.
DeleteLove that idea of transporting back in time. Every time I read a novel, I feel as if I am walking with the characters in the novel. Love postcards. I wonder how many of you send postcards to yourselves?
DeleteDiana, mailing postcards to yourself is a brilliant idea! Not only do you get the fun of receiving mail, you have the postcard and the foreign stamp and you don't have to carry anything extra. Love it!
DeleteThanks, I hope you enjoy the book.
Hank, you are too funny. You're working TIME TRAVEL into everything today. LOL
DeleteMy step-father sent postcards during his travels on the condition that he could collect them when he returned, no camera needed and he could jot down his thoughts as he traveled.
DeleteCarol, your premise is fascinating! I've been an avid sci-fi fan since meeting my step-father, Tom Godwin, whose short story, The Cold Equations, has been a source of discussion for years.
ReplyDeleteFrom childhood, I've been fascinated by rocks--the colors, the shapes, the feel from smooth to rough. I collected them, but during my family's frequent move, most of them were lost. During my first visit to the Mexican Riviera, I brought back pictures of the sea turtles laying eggs on the beach under a full moon. As you so excellently described, every time I look at the pictures I smell the sea, hear the booming of the surf, and remember the moment when I was snorkeling, turned my head, and watched a barracuda longer than me swim past.
Since I live in what was once a geologically active area, I again collect rocks, and found a small branch resembling a partially-coiled snake. The large rocks stay outside, the smaller ones are scattered through the house.
I also have a collection of personally signed books from the few Cons I've attended.
I look forward to reading your books!
Diane, it sounds like you're building a fantastic collection again. Awesome! Your snorkeling experience sounds amazing. I think I would have swallowed a huge gulp of water if a barracuda had come so close. Yikes!
DeleteI hope you enjoy the books.
Oh — Every single rock lives on in your memory, right? ...awww.
DeleteI like to collect anything unique or different in places I visit,it can be anything that's interesting or beautiful to me.
ReplyDeleteSerendipity!
DeleteThat sounds just right, Kathy. That's usually what I end up doing. Whatever catches my eye that's special to that place.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Libby Dodd! I put the names of all the people who commented on scraps of paper and into a Christmas stocking. Yours is the name I pulled out. Please contact me via my website with your address. I'll mail your book next week.
ReplyDeleteAlmost 9pm here in California but I wanted to put a little something about collections. I have a few different collections. One of my larger one collections is spoons - some from travel, some were from family and family friends. I also have shells but the majority aren't from travels to far off places. They are from down the road and around the foothills to our coast. My brother-in-law had a permit for the abalone season. We saved the shells of some pretty fantastic meals.
ReplyDeleteOh, what a wonderful idea! How do you display the spoons?
DeleteI have 3 spoon racks, different sizes and wood colors, 18 spoons per rack.
DeleteYour spoon collection sounds lovely. It's even more interesting to mix pieces from your travels with antique ones from your family. Do you ever use them for a special occasion,Deana?
DeleteThank you for such a fun day, Carol! Xxxxxx See you all tomorrow for a special treat..
ReplyDeleteMy most heartfelt thanks to Hank and the Jungle Reds for hosting me. It has been lots of fun. And Happy Holidays to All. xo
DeleteI am not a collector of what-nots or dust collectors (frankly it is my aversion to housework that is in play here). I love the rotating photo wall. When we travel, I haunt art galleries and book shops. I have a beautiful hand-tinted copper etching of Le Chateau Frontenac from Quebec, a soft watercolor of Nantucket harbor, a horizontal watercolor of London’s skyline, a hand-carved 3-D Bavarian hearth scene that hangs on the wall and is also a music box, etc.
ReplyDeleteI really like your idea of bringing back art, Deborah. I think I might steal it the next time I travel.
ReplyDelete