A little Christmas in August

I thought I would write about the arrival of rain late last evening but it is raining too hard and it is too dark at 6:45 a.m. to go out and check the rain gauge. But rain in August is a lovely sound!

Mark and I spent half the day on Wednesday doing errands and a bit of fun shopping. Just before we left State Street, we dashed into A Room of One's Own bookstore to get the latest copy of The Progressive which our book club is reading this month. It'a choice that gives us a bit of a vacation from a big book and also fits better into a tighter schedule between meetings than usual. Our trip into Madison's longtime feminist bookstore for a magazine resulted in me getting four books (3 new hardcover and 1 used hardcover book) and Mark got four as well, though his group included more used books. But one of mine requires only a brief read each day and you could skip the reading if you feel like it.

I have a similar calendar book with photos by Mick Hales that is 6 inches x 9 and 1/2 inches but this one's large square 8x8 inch format makes for a bit of drama while providing room for text about a garden subject and a spot for you to write in important dates.

I was thinking I would put it away until January but Mark set it on the kitchen counter opened to the proper day. Who am I to argue that my gift to myself should wait another four and a half months before I start to use it!

If you look closely you can see that the illustration for today is a garden seat that is enclosed in a plexiglass pergola. I love the idea though I wonder if it would get hot without any openings for a breeze to blow through. Each photo in the book also gives the name/country of the garden designer. This is by Ulf Nordfjell from Sweden so maybe it never gets hot enough for plexi walls and ceiling to be an issue. 

All-in-all a delightful present that also gives me a lovely garden to look at when it is too rainy to be out in my own.

This is a new book, just published in 2018, by Prestel Publishing whose beautiful website is worth a visit. I am receiving no remuneration for this blog post. Should you decide to buy a copy, support your local independent bookseller rather than Amazon if you are able. 

Comments

[Barbara H.]

Yes, it's a good idea to start now rather than waiting since memory, at least for me, might erase the fact that it's sitting there waiting for you until perhaps years later when cleaning out the bookshelf! Perhaps just having the top of the pergola would work better in warmer climates. I can hear the raindrops on it as I type.

[Peter/Outlaw]

Looks like a great gift to yourself. 365 days of garden advice and beautiful pictures - hooray!

[Linda Brazill]

Thought that being able to hear and see the rain without getting wet would be fun, assuming there is no wind blowing rain in on you!

[Kris P]

Rain and a trip to the bookstore - I can't think of a better way to celebrate.

[Linda Brazill]

You're right; there is no better way to spend a day.

[Nell]

Even aside from the temperature issue, plexi side walls would make it feel too much like a bus shelter for me -- even with those comfy-looking cushions.

Lovely journal.

[Linda Brazill]

Oh, Nell! How did I miss that; totally like a bus shelter.

[Lisa at Greenbow]

I wish we had a book store in our town. I don't even know of one in the bigger city an hour drive from here. Of course it is easier on my wallet not having one so close. I tend to purchase more books if I can put my hands on them first. I like the idea of the 365 day garden journal.
I happened on a shed like sitting area building project in (I think) Garden Design on line that was in Sweden. They were all excited about it and it was mostly made of plexiglass. They talked about being able to sit in there watching snow etc. Interesting but I thought it odd looking as year round interest. I guess you do what you have to do.