"Love Letters . . . "

Greetings,

Well, welcome to the first of exactly 26 posts - as we progress not only through our alphabet, but through a vast collection of things and places that delight me. I won't be so brave as to promise you edge-of-your-seat excitement . . . but, you should know that there ARE several letter with competing topics . . . and a few letters that still need filling in - but, I know that nothing works better than a deadline - so my dearest hope is that everything reveals itself in time . . . lol.

I don't want to make this too overwhelming for either one of us. Not right out of the gates on our very first day of the "Love Letters" series . . . so to get us started - let's begin with something simple.

Something we can all respond to . . .

"A" is for . . .

some of my favourites

"ART BOOKS"

the home of New York designer Robert Passal

So, let me set the scene - - you've just walked into a new friend's home for the very first time. And your host has stepped away to put your coats in the closet. Or to get you a drink.

What is one of the first things that you do . . . ?

from here at the offices of Scot Meacham Wood Design

Well, if you're are anything like me, you begin scanning through their bookshelves.

What are they reading?

What interests them?

What titles have they invested in?

Albert Hadley from Elle Decor

"You look at these details and a world unfolds - here are their books, the paintings they cherish, the music that soothes their souls"

- the very wise Charlotte Moss

the country home of Badgley/Mischka from Elle Decor

And of course, any posts about art books must contain images of a library or two.

Like this beautiful space - serving double duty as a dining room.

the home of Los Angeles designer Joe Nye

Or you can use a library to anchor a larger room.

And I love the use of the mirrored wall as well . . .

Scot Meacham Wood Design

And a little something from my own home -

I was able to reinterpret my wide entry hallway to serve as my library.

And because of its placement in the house, my books are never too far away.

There. Short. Sweet. Nothing too strenuous for our first day.

Though, from the look of things - tomorrow's post is going to require a bit more heavy lifting.

Yes, heavier than a pile of art books.

Onward to 'B,'

tartanscot

"Captain Tartan, In the Library . . . "

Greetings,

I find simple day-to-day rituals to be incredibly reassuring. I love the ritual of drawing the drapes in my bedroom every night as I get ready for bed. Making one last cup of herbal tea. With a little sugar, and a splash of cream (or more likely some 2% milk.) Curled up in a great pair of vintage pajamas - and grabbing a book from the nightstand.

And every spring, one of my rituals is re-reading some of my favourite books. I have friends who NEVER re-read book. What? I put them in the same category as the people who never see a movie more than once. It's only a small group of people. And I don't understand them.

I treasure re-reading books. Feeling the tousled pages against my fingertips. Seeing written notes in my own handwriting. Discovering something new. Seeing different motivations. Feeling the warm memory of re-visiting well-loved characters. and locations. and emotions.

Whilst the house is in complete remodeling upheaval, the one shining light of organization is my library. So tonight, I'm getting some books ready for the next several weeks of reading - and here's a few favourites just waiting for me . . .

"The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits"

by Emma Donoghue

A wonderful collection of short stories based on odd bits of English and Irish folklore and obscure trials from the 1800's. Whimsical. Imaginative. Heartbreaking.

"Elle Minnow Pea. A Novel in Letters"

by Mark Dunn

I love the written language. And I love letters. And this sweet, effortless tale explores both worlds. Imagine a world where we begin to lose letters from our alphabet? Could we survive without the letter 'n?' Or the letter 'q?'

"Icefields"

by Thomas Wharton.

The book opens with a small band of explorers trekking across a glacier. One lone man slips and falls into a cravasse - a sees a winged human figure buried in the ice. And a romantic, mysterious tale unwinds from that one random occurrence.

"The Daughter of Time"

by Josephine Tey

A breathtaking re-telling and investigation into the story of Richard III.

Smart and wonderfully constructed.

"Me Talk Pretty One Day"

by David Sedaris

My hope if that you've already read this once. Or twice. Or maybe monthly. And if you've never read the works of the ever-brilliant Mr. Sedaris, this is one of my all-time favourites. One of the reasons that I need to read this in the privacy of my own home - it's 'laugh-out-loud' funny. No seriously - there are times I've embarrassed myself - guffawing in public. On a plane. At Starbucks.

"Brideshead Revisited"

by Evelyn Waugh

This is one of the few books that I've read SO many times, I might be able to simply recite it from cover to cover. The beautiful romance of England between the wars. And an exploration of love. and ambition.

complete with a teddy bear, named Aloysius.

"Pride and Prejudice"

by Jane Austen

Just read it.

I firmly believe that reading Austen makes you a better person. That's what I'm hanging all of my hopes on.

So tell me - what are some of your favourites? There's always room for more books.

cheers,

tartanscot