Friday 12 September 2008

generosity








i was very giddy yesterday because the kind and generous Lynne Hoppe sent me treasure - i was so giddy that when i left the house after the parcel opening frenzy i thought i saw a man eating the pavement in our street - turned out my head was so full of treasure he was a workman down a whole in the ground and as his head went up and down with his digging he looked like he was having a concrete lunch.

anyway, i'm not a big reader, i wish i was, but i'm not. i've got lots of books - most of them books you look at rather than read cover to cover. i have read some books but i never have time and when i try and read novels i drift off into my own world - my eyes follow the words line by line for ages but i'm not paying any attention to what they mean and i have to back track so many times and force myself to concentrate- so i just don't do it [often]. its why i don't think of myself as a wordy person and i am surprised when people say something i've written on my blog has made them laugh or i have a 'way' of telling a story, because i just blurt out rubbish most of the time. i would like to get good at telling stories though like the awesome frida -now that woman nows how to write.

anyway [again] the treasure that Lynne sent was a carefully wrapped pebble and a gorgeous book which is easy for someone like me to read - i've read it cover to cover and I'm proud as punch. But better than that, the illustrations are to dye for. this is the book it reminds me of sarah fanelli who is a fabby illustrator and i've been collecting her books for a few years now. well, when i checked out the author and illustrator Maira Kalman i was amazed by her work and now I'm dangerously close to collecting her books too (it's a good job i am not rich).

Thank you Lynne - you are a kind soul and i feel very greedy for grabbing this before anyone else had a chance.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey- thanks for the tip on the cool book! Same goes for me too...I love looking at the page sin books, but not reading them. Have fun this weekend!

Jeane Myers said...

I think you are a wonderful story teller and the book obviously found the home it was searching for! - another happy ending! - gotta love it!

ArtSparker said...

What a beautiful photo essay and post. I have to tell you, since I have been spending more time on the internet, I seem to be able to read two pages at a time of printed matter...something's gained and something lost (as in the old song) there, I suppose. My friend Katherine sent me Sara Fanelli's book about the butterfly girl about four years ago. I love the pavement eating. Does Mother Earth taste as good as she used to?

lynne h said...

kate! you keep putting a smile on my face!!

when the page came up on the screen i saw your banner and the practice random kindness stamp... ahhhhhhh... your package arrived!! yippee!!! that it filled your head so full of treasure you thought the workman was having a concrete lunch, well, what more could this grrl ask for?

i added frida to my 'soul blogs' folder -- thank you for the tip. and also for the sarah fanelli heads up. uh oh, i'm getting a big list of books i want.

so very glad you like your book -- my pleasure entirely...

xo

p.s. your workman having a concrete lunch reminded me of the time i was walking down the street and saw a sign that said 'meditation services offered'. whoa, i thought! you can get people to meditate for you!! but upon closer inspection it said 'mediation services offered'. ohhhh.... well who wants mediation services...

kate said...

OK...that's it! I've waited long enough! Your wonderful photos of the unwrapping has pushed me over the edge. I'm starting to unwrap tomorrow!

The packaging of your delightful gift was just wonderful. I especially love the sheep with wings! And of course, the wrapped pebble.

And, for the record, I am another who thinks you are a wonderful storyteller. You always make me laugh!

Anonymous said...

snap! I ordered that book after reading her interview on some one's amazing blog. She is my new secret artist crush. What a delicious packet of goodies.

Seth said...

What a wondeful gift to get and a really interesting post to share it. Thanks for all the new links too!

Kari Gibson said...

Looks good - will add it to my wish list!

If you like those illustrators, you might also like Alice Palace: http://www.alicepalace.co.uk/

BrightBoy said...

I am typically a big reader, but with the onset of the school year I've had to greatly limit the amount of leisure time I devote to literature, something that has made me feel guilty, lazy, and ignorant.

I've begun following the news again, though, so at least I'm somewhat caught up on current events again!