There was news this week of another independent bookstore closing. This particular one is the oldest indie bookseller (45 years) in the city. They are not necessarily closing because of poor sales or lack of customers, but mostly because of the dramatic increase in rent. This could be seen as a good thing, in that the city is thriving and neighbourhoods are becoming prosperous, but it is also a bad thing because only big name chain stores can afford these higher rents, so the local shops close up and the flavour of the neighbourhood becomes a little less interesting.
But books and bookstores are thriving.
If there were a theme to our family Christmas presents, it would have to be books. Every one of us received at least one book, some more than one. No kindles or kobos or e-readers for my family, we are all about the old fashioned, physical turning of the pages. We exchanged books not only for reading, but also for writing and for drawing. I will have to start journaling again in my pretty notebook, something that went by the wayside once I started blogging.
I was frantically trying to finish one book I had bought as a present, until I realized I was enjoying it so much that I wanted my own copy. Books are always fun to give to people. It is, in a way, my default gift, but not always because I can't think of anything else. In a strange way, it feels more personal to buy someone a book, more like sharing a bit of yourself. Sometimes, it is a book that I have read and loved and want others to experience. Sometimes, it is one that I have come across and think that a certain person might enjoy. I don't think I have ever been disappointed in getting a book as a gift. I have been introduced to authors I'd not heard of, and to ones I thought I wouldn't like. I once received a book that I waited three years to read - it took that long before I was desperate enough interested in it. Still, I kept it on my shelf, always thinking that one day I might pick it up even though a voice in the back of my mind said "but you don't like Stephen King". I discovered, maybe I did, after all.
This year I got an anthology of short stories. It is perfect for leaving in the car for emergency reading. I like to have something in hand when sitting in a restaurant on my own and a novel is too long and sometimes too engrossing; it can be hard to find the right spot for a break. But a short story is perfect for holding one's attention for just long enough. And this book is a collection of new writers, so every story is a true surprise. The other book I got was the darling of the literary world in 2011,
The Sisters Brothers. Up for numerous awards and given gallons of praise by every reviewer, but somehow, something about it just didn't appeal. So I never bothered with it and had no intentions of reading it. But since I now have it in my possession, I decided to look through it before rearranging my shelves to make it fit. Haven't been able to put it down for the past two days. It is different. Definitely a unique style. And a
darkly funny, offbeat western about a reluctant outlaw and his murderous brother.
I have discovered a new side to myself.
Driving past the botanical gardens the other week, I saw these enticing signs
to chocolate making demonstrations
We had a bit of a blizzard yesterday afternoon and everything looked so lovely with all that freshly falling snow, so I made a detour into the cemetery to get some wintry scenes of gravestones for this post. 
the gold lettering stood out in this stone and the snow on the trees looked much whiter against the darkening sky than this picture shows
It was challenging to get anything that looked like a good shot since I wasn't about to actually get out of my car... I drove around following tire tracks that were barely visible looking for something photogenic. I stopped a few times... and had trouble getting going again as it was hillier than I realized. And with near white out conditions, I was completely disoriented so I just kept following these tire tracks - which in all likelihood could have been my own - until I finally saw the large building of the crematorium and could get my bearings back out onto the street.
Check other versions of the Year of the Dragon immortalized on stamps by visiting Viridian's Stamps
The are working on the finishing touches, like a new mailbox in the portico, which you can just barely see being put in
remember, the house that originally sat on this lot looked like this
and house #2, which was really a tiny cottage that had all its hopes and dreams of reno dashed as it lay dormant for about 3 years 
It is a maze of rooms and displays and, sometimes, if you are lucky, you might run into the artist who has show. Gino Lorcini has a stunning exhibit of metal sculptures. I overheard him say that this would be the last exhibit of his work (he is almost 90 afterall!)
and on Saturday I get to see one!
So, here is the Queen. I like this one where she is smiling and looks happy. It is also almost in the usual profile pose.
