Dear Blogosphere

Dear Blogosphere,

I miss you. How have you been? I'm okay.

Well, not okay, more like trying to catch my breath.

Last year I had no idea that this would happen. I intended to be a vegetable raising, novel writing, piano playing, fun things crafting, blogging sort of girl for the rest of my life - or till I got married - whichever came first. But then, life went crazy, and nothing is what I had planned. I'm a totally different person, it's like I've been morphed into some other human being. I'm still trying to figure out where that person came from.

I catch glimpses of myself in the rear view mirror of my car, and struggle to realize that that person in the driver's seat is me. Me... the girl who was never, ever going to learn to drive. That person with the zebra striped phone to her ear, the earrings, the new haircut, the business suit. That's me?

I'm the girl rushing around her apartment kitchen, grabbing coffee, petting the cats, heels clicking, adrenaline racing, all to get to work on time.

I'm the girl typing up documents in a lawyer's office, answering phones (who'da thought... all my life I have hated phones!) chatting with clients, and puzzling over the intricacies of the law.

I'm the girl planning her first foray into college.

Can you see why I'm going crazy? Why I sometimes catch myself and wonder what the name of this new person is, and where on earth I disappeared to. I love all this new life, but a part of me still reaches back to the quiet country girl who had nothing more exciting to talk about than the deer who ate my beet plants. I miss that girl sometimes.

Maybe she hasn't completely disappeared. I catch glimpses of her occasionally. She's the one who loves to cook, who pins furiously in an attempt to satisfy her inner crafter. The girl who gets up in the middle of the night to jot down a plot for a novel. I still have a garden, even though it's shrunk considerably, (for instance: from 40 tomato plants, to 2).  I still play the piano, though nowadays, I only have time for one song, played after I get home from work in an attempt to calm down from the bustle. I still read, even if only in snippets. And I still want to blog. At work, I have blog posts forever flitting into my head. (Not a good thing if you are trying to write a business letter to a client.)

So there you are my dear blogosphere. There is me all wrapped up in a confusing tangle, something like the gordian knot you know.

I hope this letter finds you well. Do tell me what is going on with you.

Sincerely yours,
Amanda

:)

Fine print: If you've read this far, the images are not mine, totally adorable though. :)

Fireflies

When I was little there was one night every summer that I would eagerly look forwards to. I never knew when it would come, or what I would be doing when it came.  I just knew that once it started to happen the most magical night of all would be there, waiting for me. And, every year, sometime in June the night would open up.

Without any warning, a sparkle of yellow light would catch my eye, and then another, and another. As night would deepen there would be a great mist of yellow sparkles rising up from the grass. As they go higher their ranks would break and a million tiny fireflies would flash their tiny lights.  Making the sky look like the stars were dancing, and reminding me of the falling sparks of a firework. 


Until I was forced into bed, I would chase them, catching them in my hands, and  watching as their lights would distinguish in the captivity. Slowly I'd pull my hands away, and as they firefly took off, watch his tiny light flash and glow.

What makes a firefly glow? Why does he choose to only sparkle in the night?  What is the purpose for his light? I never could understand, but I knew that watching the fireflies I understood a very simple truth.

Night is dark, very dark in the summer. The firefly is just a tiny little insect, a very insignificant bug during the day.  Alone, his light is not very strong. Yet, when joined together, a thousand fireflies can bring light and comfort in the dark night.

This world is big and dark and scary. It seems that the sun shines so seldom here. I feel so small and insignificant against it's heavy darkness. Yet, when I join together with a thousand other small insignificant creatures. We can bring light and comfort into the darkness.

The firefly must choose to light the sky. He must fly up out of the protecting grass and lend his light. A light that he did not create, but a light that was given to him for just one purpose, to sparkle in the darkness.

I must choose to rise up out of my safe hiding spot. I must choose to use the light granted me for what it was meant for, a small sparkle in the darkness. It's my choice, but it's also my highest calling, and the only place where I will find happiness.

Follow the fireflies!


Fine Print: Images not mine but are from Pinterest .com

Announcing....

Drum-roll...


Trumpet blast....

(Clears throat, taps microphone, straightens necklace)

I'd like to make an announcement. Today is the grand opening of a brand new blog. In the Library. A book review blog like no other written by Maria (Miss Georgiana Darcy) and Your's Truly. :)  Come on over, I can't wait to show you all around! :)

Fineprint: Don't read this go to the blog! 

Iced Chai Latte...

My boxes are quickly emptying. My walls have gone from dirty white and sage green, to butter yellow, turquoise, and a nice sandy brown. My furniture is set up, and I've cooked my first meal in my new home (hot ham and cheese sandwich... how grand) My cat has established her new favorite places, and my tiny deck garden has been planted.

It's finally starting to feel like home. I'll have to show you all pictures. :)

By the end of the week I should have internet at home, farewell to my iced chai latte. :(

(By the way, you who have not yet stepped across Panera's doors, go, do it! It's great. :)

I haven't got anything profound, or exceptionally interesting to say. I really just popped in to say that I miss you all, that I've got 800 blog posts in my reader, and that I'm really going to miss the latte's.

And perhaps, since I haven't got anything to say, why don't you all answer a question I've been wondering about.

What genre of books do you read?

Adventure, Biography, Historical fiction, Sci-fi, Romance, Comedy...

And which is better, old books, or new books?

Can't wait to hear your answers, I am asking for a reason. :)

P.S. Anybody know what Blog train is? I received an invitation, can someone tell me what it is?

TTFN

In Which I Return from the Land of Silence.

Dear neglected friends and readers.

I've finally got all the boxes moved, many of them unpacked even. I've got the first days of work tucked under my belt, and I've finally found a chance to sit down and connect to the internet. The sad thing is, I still don't have internet at home so I'm forced to sit and sip Iced Chai Tea at Panera Bread in order to write to you all.

Isn't that sad?

So, it won't be long and regular posting will be back. And I promise for all you all who I follow, my google reader is chock full of your posts, and I'll be reading them soon. :)

Thanks to all the new followers and comment writers! I appreciate it, and can't wait to get to know you all some more!

My coffee cup is empty and I have only 2 minutes more of internet time, so, until I order another Iced Chai Latte, I must bid you farewell.

Talk to you soon!
Amanda


Fine Print: Image not mine. Wish I had a dress like that to wear to Panera. :) 

I'm guest  posting today over at Beloved Star.  I've loved reading Nela's thoughts over the past year, and was thrilled to be included as one of her guest posters. Check out her blog, and don't forget to look at some of the other guest poster's blogs. I'm sure you'll enjoy it!


Amanda

Building Your Personal Library

After my last post, I thought it might be fun for all of us to swap some tips on how to fill bookshelves with treasures. I'll share my favorite ways if you all promise to share some of yours. :)

1. Determine what sort of books you want to collect and treasure.
    If you are looking for modern books, you'll probably look for them in different places than vintage.

2. Keep a list of books you really want. That way when you are in a bookstore and the sheer mass of titles is overwhelming, you can just look for the titles you want.

3. Train your vision to be eagle sharp. If you are already an abibliophobiac like me, you don't need any help here. Your inner instincts already send of alarm bells every time you see the spine of a book.

Places to look:

1. Yard sales.  Look under the tables, under home decor clutter in boxes, under stacks of magazines. Books put out at yards sales are generally dirt cheap and negotiable. If there are several books in a box of books, offer to take the whole box for a price you name. Often the seller will be glad for you to just haul them away.

2. Goodwill/thrift stores. Don't just assume that there are only trashy romance novels at these places. Often I have been surprised to find real treasures on their shelves. Again, these places are generally extremely cheap.

3. Flea markets. Sellers will often negotiate on price, especially if buy in volume. A tip: don't act overly excited. You've got to be a little crafty here. Flea Market Sellers are sharp business men, don't let the overalls and beard deceive you. Name your price, (reasonable of course) and then act as if it doesn't matter a pin to you if you get them. Acted excited, and they'll know you'll purchase them no matter what, and will neither lower the price and may even attempt to trick you and raise it.

4. Antique stores. My favorite and where many of mine came from. Often Antique malls are loaded with books tucked away in little corners. Some antique dealers know the worth of their books and their prices are super high. Make sure that you aren't paying more than you need to.

5. eBay. That's right. eBay is an excellent place to buy old books. Since it's an auction you can generally offer your price, and since old books aren't really going to good currently on the market, you'll get it. Make sure you factor in the shipping price when you think of how much you want to spend. This is where I got all of my first edition Elsie Dinsmore's.

6. ABE books. Great place for modern or vintage. Careful that you know whether the book you are buying is paperback/hardback.

7. Amazon. They don't always have the lowest prices, but you can often find good deals on modern books here.

8. Library sales.  Old books and good books =  no longer needed in the library. Many libraries have a shelf set to the side of books that you can buy.

9. Used book stores. Warning: if you are looking for vintage books here, be careful. Used book sellers know what they are doing, especially if a book is a first edition. The prices may be super high. However, some are negotiable, and some of the stores work on a credit system. (You bring in your unwanted books, they "buy" them, and whatever those books were worth you get in credit from the store. )


10. Friends.  Once friends know that you collect books they will be constantly asking if you want their old books. Accept them, keep what you want and send the rest away to goodwill. :)

11. Keep up with the sales at your favorite book stores. Barnes and Noble has a clearance section online. (It's our secret though, can't let too many people know or we'll never get books. :)

What are some of your favorite places to buy books?

Fine Print:  Links are clickable. I make no profit off of your purchase of anything. Unless, you are shopping through Amazon. :)  Images not mine.