So continuing with bookstores and weaknesses...

My mama and I went thrifting and used bookstore shopping nearly everyday that I was in Oklahoma. I have to say I was taken back by the lack of variety at your local Midwest City used bookstores. Apparently their demographic is lonely housewives and adventure deprived men. The couple stores we checked out were almost every trashy romance novel published and the other half of the store was true crime/mystery with a spattering of sci-fy and arts and crafts. And what is a christian romance anyway? A book of holding hands and chaste kisses? There were shelves upon shelves dedicated to the genre.
I was disappointed that not one used bookstore could satisfy my taste...there wasn't one Tom Robbins or Neil Gaiman book. Not one. Surprises me to no end. I finally found a Gaiman book for 50 cents at the goodwill. I was also looking for Orson Scott Card's Enders Game and Elizabeth Young's Asking for Trouble (my romantic guilty pleasure) yet neither were to be found.

I found plenty of others I wasn't looking for though.

Water For Elephants is a fantastic read. I actually bought two copies to leave one in Oklahoma for Sam and Mom. I bought The Legacy of Luna at a mystic shop...I couldn't pass it up while in love with my dear niece Luna and still in an enchanted daze from my trip through the redwoods this past summer. They are the most hypnotizing things I've ever seen. This book is about one activist life up in a redwood for two years to prevent their deforestation. A remarkable story.
Check them out or find another book calling to you at your local used bookstore.

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A weakness...

Bookstores!!! I love books!!!! Liz sent me this link and I must share it. Here are some magnificent magical literary havens declared to be of the World's 6 Best Bookstores by Spot Cool Stuff.com...

Shakespeare & Co Antiquarian Bookstore in Paris, France

Livraria Lello in Porto, Portugal

The El Ateneo bookstore in Buenos Aires

Selexyz Dominicanen Bookstore in Maastricht, Netherlands

And to add one of my own...last summer while in California my fabulous friend, Jennifer, introduced me to Bart's Books in Ojai. It's an amazing outdoor used bookstore. They boast a incredible selection including some very rare books but the best part is the atmosphere. The books are protected from the elements by awnings over the shelves giving the place an open market feeling of freedom. The walls encircle a small house that has themed rooms with books cleverly categorized by their location. For example, the kitchen is full of cookbooks and the study full of history books. The outside of the wall available to the public 24 hours has books by donation where the new adoptive parent tosses the money over the wall to be collected the next day.


Photos via bartsbooksojai.com

And lastly, I would like to remember a bookstore that will always be in my heart, Acorn Books located on Ninth St in Columbia, MO. It closed in 2007 but I will never forget it. A quaint little store full of so much magic. When you entered you were greeted by a kindly couple. You quickly disappeared into the narrow pathways between tall shelves. From there you were up the wooden stairs to the loft or down into the cold hidden nook....I usually found myself there, in the art section, next to the toilet. I hope all the best for Ken and his darling wife, may they find another place to share their magic with the world.

Hydrants and Headless dogs

"Vacation is what you take
when you can't take
what you've been taking
any longer."

And so it is, with Bob's assistance, that I find myself on the Oklahoma side of an 8 1/2 hour drive to see my mom, sister and my darling niece, Luna. My mom and sister still have to work all week. Both work on a military base so we are talking some seriously early mornings with a two year old.
Luna and I went on an adventure. She's obsessed with walking the neighborhood to see all the dogs.

On our walk we found a dog of our own, Lucky, the three legged headless dog.

Her mom wanted to strangle me when she saw I let Luna crawl up the hydrant alone. She's a tough broad, she can do it. (There is validity in that fear. She's broken her collarbone already, before she was two, taking a trip off the bed. I feel kids must climb. They are wee adventurers.) Luna will surely want to take more adventures in the few days left of my vacation so many more photos to come.
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OKLAHOMA!

I don't think it's a coincidence that two musicals were inspired by Oklahoma and Saint Louis...they are something to talk about.

Tess+Galen=Good Times

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BOB

He's the best.
Fixed my amazing purple mini van.
Carpooled me home.
Such a gentleman.

Sseko Designs

The oh so talented and big-hearted Liz Bohannon has a vision! And it's fashionable. Sseko Designs are fantastic sandals with changeable fabric straps. The best part is she's using her popular product to better the world. Meet her talented manufacturers...

Edina, Betty, Topesta, Teddy, Robinah, Mercy and Harriet

All photos copyright Sseko Designs

These lovely ladies are living in Uganda and working towards their educations. Look at what can be done with just one helping hand! I wish Sseko Designs and Liz all the best and a happy congratulations to her happy life with dear Ben.