The little resale shop-in-a-house-along-a-country road that only opens seasonly, emails to say they
will open on the weekend. It's been awhile since I'd been there so I decide I "need" to go.
We just never know what we'll find there.
There is only one thing I'm looking for. I get there soon after it opens and the
proprietor meets me at the door, arms outstretched in frustration.
"We have no electricity and don't know when it will be on again."
But she invites me in to shop in the dark.
The light from the door shines on a plethora of Franciscan Desert Rose. I find two bowls to add
to my mother's set that I so enjoy using. Now I can serve soup to six. Right next to that, in a
bit dimmer light, are a bunch of glass desert dishes of which I have seven at home. Now I have eight!
But they are not what I'm looking for.
I head in the darkness towards the book room. The reason I came. I shine my
phone flashlight on the rows of bookshelves, scanning for a certain title.
Down behind the chair is a neat stack of books on a bottom shelf.
I move the chair and reach down to read the titles.
Sure enough, there it is. Not just a nicely priced used copy, but a beautifully
bound copy looking like new, with pictures inside.
My own book was given away years ago. I needed a new copy as my granddaughter
and I are beginning to read it together, a bit at a time. And I can only
renew a library book so many times!
Imagine my delight in finding such a volume.
(I call it a God-wink!)
And I was so pleased when we were looking through our movies
last week and came across Little Women. "Not-so-little-one" said,
"Oh I can't watch this one, Grandma.
I have to read the book first."
Exciting find. Encouraging that your granddaughter wants to read the book first. And, God-wink, perfect.
ReplyDeleteWhat an adventure and what finds! It's wonderful that you found the book you were looking for. How did you know it was there? A God wink, that's how. Love that description. Your granddaughter is a very wise little woman, always read the book first, they always leave so much of the story on the cutting room floor when the movie gets made.
ReplyDeleteHappy Mosaic Monday, so glad you came to join in again this week.
I love your term "God Wink." I've heard it referred to as God Spy--meaning the times we "spy" God in the midst of things, but yours speaks to my heart more. I love that you are reading a book to your grandchildren in installments. One of my best memories is reading a children's version of Pilgrim's Progress to my boys when they were little. They were geniunely interested in showing up for the next reading.
ReplyDeleteYes! I have this exact copy! And the other treasures, just what you needed too!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to consider reading this to my almost 7 year old granddaughter! I think she'll like it!
It was meant to be. I have a set of 6 Little Women green hardback books and have read them many, many times over the years. Enjoy reading time with your granddaughter.
ReplyDeleteYour shop sounds lovely, even if there were no lights. I'm so glad they had just what you wanted. And I do love what your granddaughter said! She's enjoying the book and what could be better than that for a grandmother? ♥
ReplyDeleteA God-wink for sure! I love shops like that and an adventure with no electricity, too! I love the "old" Franciscan patterns (aging myself). My Aunt had an entire set of the apple -- glasses and flatware. It was so much fun to visit and sit in her kitchen with the formica table set with the apples dishes. Memories! Love what your grand said about the movie -- good for her! Happy Monday!
ReplyDeleteReading together with your granddaughter, How awesome
ReplyDeletehave a nice week
much love...
Fun to go shopping in the dark! How nice that you found exactly what you were looking for, and such a lovely book too.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the process of searching for the Landmark series of historical biographies for children that I read as a child to share with my grandchildren. I won't forget the day that I rediscovered the biography on George Washington Carver, my childhood favorite. So glad you now have your volume of LITTLE WOMEN. Cherry Kay
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful shop, and a "God wink" for sure! And reading it WITH your grand daughter? Well now you've gone way over the top with wonderfulness...Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful thing to hear your granddaughter say! It's so nice to raise readers. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet shop and a wonderful find.
ReplyDeleteI have a lovely old copy of Little Women, perhaps my mother's, but too precious to handle enough for a good read.
Oh how I love those God winks in our lives! Enjoy...
ReplyDeleteYou know I love that beautiful copy of Little Women. I went to a library book sale last week and got a few treasures. I need to take some pics. I treasure old books and wonderful classics like this! Hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteI love it that your little surprises, you call a 'God wink'. So right, so appropriate.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun shopping experience. I know you and your granddaughter will enjoy reading the book together.
ReplyDeleteThat is the kind of little shop I'd love to peruse! You came away with many treasures. The illustration on the book cover is a wonderful treasure all on its own, in my humble opinion. Enjoy your reading with your granddaughter! What fun.
ReplyDeleteShopping in the dark - that's something to remember! Little Women was one of my favourite books as a child, although I enjoyed Eight Cousins, also by Alcott, more, I think. Glad you persevered and found what you were looking for. Now there's a story to share with your granddaughter about the finding of the book.
ReplyDeleteDon't you just love it when that happens? I truly believe that God does care about little things such as those you mentioned, things that delight our hearts! That book especially...wow...what a find! Who needs lights anyway?? :D
ReplyDeleteAll of the Louisa May Alcott books were precious to me as a child, and somehow, through all the moves and all the years I managed to keep them. I remember the Christmas I was 10 and my delight at receiving An Old Fashioned Girl. I can imagine that reading the books with your granddaughter must be a particularly lovely thing to do and look forward to my granddaughters being old enough for me to enjoy those books again, with them.
ReplyDeleteAll of the Louisa May Alcott books were precious to me as a child, and somehow, through all the moves and all the years I managed to keep them. I remember the Christmas I was 10 and my delight at receiving An Old Fashioned Girl. I can imagine that reading the books with your granddaughter must be a particularly lovely thing to do and look forward to my granddaughters being old enough for me to enjoy those books again, with them.
ReplyDeleteHi Dotsie, Love the pink rose in your first picture! It's so nice that you have somewhere special like that to shop; I love those places with the antique and vintage items. My mom has the Desert Rose dishes, too; they really are lovely. That looks like such a pretty copy of "Little Women." I still have the hardback my mom gave me when I was about ten years old, and I love the illustrations as much as I did then. :) What a wonderful choice of books to read with, and to, your granddaughter. Congratulations on your special find!
ReplyDeleteI'm so ready for this rain to be gone; we're positively squishing around here. I hope you have a great day, Dotsie!
Hugs,
Denise
That's a new adventure, shopping in the dark and it was successful! I have my own DVD copy of Little Women, a favourite book for me as well.
ReplyDeleteThe last sentence makes my heart smile! Your granddaughter is already a reader. So special, and rare nowadays I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteAnd what a memorable shopping adventure !
Dotsie, I so glad you found the book you were searching for, despite the lack of light. I looked up the dishes pattern you mentioned. It is lovely. Thanks for sharing. Sylvia D.
ReplyDeleteWise girl, that not-so-little one! Reading the book first is always a good plan.
ReplyDeleteYou did a fine job of shopping in less-than-perfect conditions! You found a treasure!
I love your new header!
DeleteOh the power of the Rose, both alive and dried, just magnificent is the fragrance held within and tucked away for always~
ReplyDeleteOh, she's a smart one, indeed. GOOD answer, right g'ma?
ReplyDeleteSo excited to hear all about your treasures - true serendipity - but I like your phrase better: "a God-wink!"
I think I am going to use that one, it's good.
Hugs! ♥
A God-Wink indeed! And, made all the better with a little one who prefers the written word to a show!! It just doesn't get any better than this! Plus, the additions to your Mom's Desert Rose! Rich blessings! BIG hugs ~ tanna
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful tale of the way the Lord just knows how to look out for us! I'm glad you found special treasures, and exactly what you came looking for too! Enjoy reading Little Women with your granddaughter, it is a wonderful book! Hugs to you today :)
ReplyDeleteAs you probably know I am a great fan of Little Women! Hope you enjoy reading it!
ReplyDeleteOh how I do love that book... so very different from the various movies. I love how the children play Pilgrim's Progress. I could never get my daughter to light somewhere long enough to read with me, although we have enjoyed the movies together many times. So happy for you that your granddaughter is enjoying it with you.
ReplyDeleteI like resale stores and searching in them for treasures! You found some good ones, Dot. My daughter still has her copy of Little Woman. I recently bought a book of Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales. Such memories reading the Tin Soldier when I was a child
ReplyDelete