3 Books I Ordered & Why It Takes A Village
I’m writing to tell you how I’m doing, as well as about three books I ordered.
One is half price with a coupon. One is 56% off. And I guess the last one is regular price, but is still less than $21. I ordered it because it is about small sized homes.
All the books were ordered yesterday, but two were already here when I got up this morning.
In February I typically go to Barnes & Noble and purchase a few decorating and gardening magazines (because it’s my birthday month.) Looks like this year I may miss doing that.
Besides, not too long ago I paid Maria to clean out my second bedroom closet full of cat and decor stuff. And in a fit of true minimalist vigor (it won’t last long), I gave her all my magazines.
So I decided to order a few books in the same genres instead. They’re prettier anyway. And as luck would have it, the books don’t cost more than a few dollars more than the magazines are these days anyway.
So if you’re looking to add to coffee table books or just your bookshelf, here’s a few to consider.
Heirloom Rooms, Big Spaces, Big Appeal, & A Home To Share:
I thought Erin Napier’s book was simply (Heirloom Rooms: Soulful Stories Of Home) a decorating book, but it’s also essays about home and family. Think you might find it interesting.
And even better, you can order it here at Amazon for 50% off, or $17.50. Plus it’s a beautiful book in and of itself.
- Heirloom Rooms – $17.50 (50% off + coupon)
- Small Spaces, Big Appeal – $20.82
- A Home To Share – $17.74 (56% off)
I hope the sale is still going if you want to check it out.
Heirloom Rooms Summary:
Our homes are more than an assemblage of bricks and glass, wood and nails.
They are the keepers of our childhood memories, our milestones, and heartaches. They evolve as we do.
As a family grows and eventually retracts, a home can change hands and begin again. We are the chapters in the book of a house. They carry on after we are gone, setting the stage for another story, a new life, new memories.
From Erin Napier, coauthor with her husband, Ben, of their memoir “Make Something Good Today,” comes a collection of essays walking us through every room in her home. It tells the story of a family’s life, of the days that made their home the place she longs for when she’s away.
We learn about when they became the new owners of Erin’s dream house from childhood in downtown Laurel, Mississippi, and explore the beautiful homes of family, friends, and projects past in photographs.
With essays that evoke her Southern home, photos of the beautifully imperfect, lived-in spaces of her family and friends, and prompts for us to document our own homemade memories, Heirloom Rooms feels like walking through the front door of the collected and loved-in houses Erin and Ben are known for revitalizing in HGTV’s #1 hit series, Home Town.
I admit to knowing next to nothing about this couple, other than the fact that I recognized the husband from somewhere. I’ve never watched their show or have access to it that I know of. (I’ll check).
But I think you might enjoy it, so I’m sharing the book love here. And note that there is a $2.51 coupon there on the page as well.
Big Spaces, Big Appeal Summary:
And then there’s Fifi O’Neills “Small Spaces Big Appeal: The luxury of less in under 1,200 square feet.”
In recent years, many of us have turned our backs on the trend for oversized houses and embraced small-space living. Cozy, compact dwellings have so much to offer; they bring families closer together and make it easier than ever to express personal style.
In Small Spaces, Big Appeal, Fifi O’Neill captures the zeitgeist by showcasing homes across a spectrum of styles and locations, and sharing stories of contented homeowners who have created unique, imaginative spaces.
Living in a small home doesn’t preclude having an elegant aesthetic. In fact, it allows you to focus on the elements you truly appreciate and the spaces you use the most.
Whether classically furnished or boasting a happy informality, the little gems featured in this book are more infused with a spirit than put together according to a set of rules. Rooms are airy yet intimate, with nooks and alcoves that offer daydreaming spots and built-in storage in spite of their modest footprints.
Whatever your preferred look—nostalgic, romantic, modern, country, coastal, urban, minimalist or maximalist—living small has big advantages. It encourage us to live more simply and, best of all, to create spaces with style, grace and versatility that rival homes of many times their size.
A Home To Share Summary:
From the creator of the popular Instagram @my100yearoldhome comes an interior design guide to creating beautiful, comfortable, family-centered homes that are also perfect for gatherings with friends.
A Home to Share is all about the spirit of welcome: It is a guide to giving new life to underused spaces, and to bringing cozy, truly livable decor to every room of the house—including outdoor rooms to extend home space in temperate weather. Friends and family are Leslie Saeta’s true north, so she has also woven in plenty of signature entertaining ideas for hosting relaxed gatherings large and small.
Saeta’s My 100 Year Old Home is known for designing inviting interiors where family and guests love to linger. Using examples from her own cozy farmhouse designs—including previously unpublished material—Saeta shares favorite go-to techniques and shows readers how to blend furnishings and accessories to get the look they love.
She also adds a fresh spin, with room-by-room advice for redesigning (and getting the most out of) underused spaces like the dining room and overlooked corners, hallways, and nooks. With her thoughtful and encouraging approach, she gives readers the tools and confidence they need to refresh their space, entertain, and design a home that feels just right.
I read her blog, so figured I’d like her book also.
How I’m Feeling:
I fell asleep around 10 p.m. last night and didn’t wake up until 5 a.m. Just Ivy and me snug and warm as bugs in a rug.
I was afraid I was sliding backwards, as I was sick briefly last night. But today so far, so good.
Oklahoma currently numbers second in Covid deaths right now. Oklahoma county followed by Tulsa county (here). Not huge numbers like it was a few years ago, but still.
Lisa’s Mother:
Lisa’s 95 year old mother fell while Lisa was staying over with her Saturday night. She fell and passed out into the hall closet. At first Lisa thought the noise was thunder, since she was in another room.
Anyway, 911 was called and her mother’s been sleeping on a gurney in the hallway of St. Francis hospital ever since. Yesterday they thought she was being given a bed, but there just aren’t enough to go around they say.
In fact there was only one ER doctor there on call too.
Things are getting kind of dicey, folks, so keep those hands washed! Mine look positively reptilian at this point.
I’ve got a pretty good system going. I’ve had two Walmart deliveries since becoming sick. And I pay neighbor John, who’s working at Grubhub part-time, to fetch a couple of healthy main food of the day meals here and there.
I leave him a $10 and he leaves me food at the door. Other than that, Steve and his girlfriend have helped in going to the pharmacy to pick up medication for me, etc.
Kendra and Kasi have helped too. Kendra brought comfort chicken noodle soup from Whole Foods over a week ago. And Kasi brought the Paxlovid prescription a week ago that I took for the virus. I finished it Saturday.
Kendra’s going to pick up more cash for me so I can keep John paid.
So, you know, it takes a village and all that.
Plus here’s further reading on what’s going on health-wise in 2024.
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I’ve watched that Home Town show on HGTV. They always do such a great job ands seem like very down to earth people. I’m glad you have such good friends and family to help you out. Someday, when you are feeling back to normal, you can thank them with some delicious chocolate cake!! I’m sorry to hear about Lisa’s mom. I hope she’s ok. It’s hard to believe there’s not enough staff at a hospital! Well, hopefully you’ll be back to your normal self soon. 🙏
All of those books are tempting! I’m going to check them out. Good to hear people are helping you out!
From what I have heard, hospitals may have more beds, but if they are short staffed (and aren’t all of them these days?), then you wait…however many days they decide to make you wait…sure hope your friend’s mom will be ok…poor lady!! They left my Hubby sitting next to frequent opening emergency room door, on a snowy, windy cold night…left him unattended in the wheelchair for 14 hours…until he got pneumonia and they finally moved him into a room…they did not even give him a blanket and he said he was freezing to death, wearing just this very thin night clothes as paramedics would not let me dress him better to take to hospital. Of course, we could not go to help him…armed guards around hospital. It is a total travesty what is called medical help these days. Only the very rich get decent medical care, if anyone does. Both of us are scared getting older, weaker and infirm.
Lisa said when the EMTs took her mother Saturday they weren’t wearing masks
Well, as to masks, they probably do help with many diseases, though with covid it is trying to catch a misquito with a chain link fence I have heard. When I wear one, it is because of other germs.
What’s the reason for armed guards around the hospital? Was it on lockdown because of a possible gang member in emergency for wounds and the hospital was on alert for unwanted entry by others who might want to complete the job?
Or is such security a normal, every day event?
Chris, this was during covid, and we quickly moved far away so I have no idea if they still do this or not. The guards were to keep kin out…no observers too I suppose. This hospital did some other very awful things too, even before this. It is one of the hospitals called Providence…what a misnomer!! I later read that this hospital had few employees who lived in the area, but were traveling doctors and nurses…which is also a warning sign apparently. I can tell you though that we will never be the same after living through this terrible situation!!
My 83-year old mother has Covid right now, but she’s fine. Just like a bad head cold. I was with her and caught her germs, but my Covid test was negative. I’m testing again tomorrow. I have the same symptoms she does – head congestion, sore throat, dry cough. That’s it. Neither of us have any GI problems nor a fever. We’re both taking echinacea, zinc, elderberry, vitamin D (which we both take anyway) and lots of vitamin C. Drinking lots of water and tea, getting fresh air, diffusing healthy oils, eating light and very healthy. Please be careful with the Paxlovid – it can actually cause you to be sicker. Look it up. Two of my friends took it when they had Covid and it made them much worse. I’ve heard other people say that their doctor won’t even give it to them.
I don’t buy new decorating books. I get them from the library if interested. If I really wanted to keep one, I’d buy it used elsewhere online (abebooks or thriftbooks). The decorating books I currently have are all ones I’ve picked up at library book sales for $1. People look at them and then get rid of them.
Be well, Brenda!
I finished the Paxlovid Saturday morning and I tend to agree with you. Not sure it did much for me.
Keep getting well Brenda. It takes lots of hard work to stay healthy. I know. Have been very very sick myself for over 2 weeks now. Thankful for my sister caring for me.
The days are slow, but I’m improving.
The books look interesting. Although I don’t buy them anymore.
Ben & Erin’s TV show is wonderful. I watched another recent show last night, after the Grammy’s.
They are a lovely, and exceptionally talented couple. Amazing skills. 👏 They have 2 little adorable girls!!
Most likely, you would love the show Brenda.
Work on your wellness!
Me too!!!
So many older people live alone these days. When I fractured my ankle last March, it was an old friend and a cousin-by-marriage who checked up on me — not the blood nieces who live in town. Please make sure that if something happens to you, someone will log on and let us know. I have even instructed my two support people to put an obituary on facebook for me, when that day comes. There is nothing worse than wondering if someone goes radio-silent.
Slow and easy wins the race – I think that is from the tale of the “Rabbit and the Hare” or something like it, LOL. Glad you’re feeling better Brenda. Spend lots of time under a snuggly blanket with your feet up and enjoy reading and watching your favorite programs. I have watched several seasons of “Home Town” (HGTV) with my Discovery+ subscription (not expensive). Erin has a great design sense and her husband Ben is a master carpenter. They’re all about restoring older homes in the town they live in down south and rejuvenating it, one house at a time, rather like Joanna and Chip Gaines have done in Waco, TX. HGTV shows abbreviated clips of some of their most popular shows on its YouTube channel, maybe you can find some shortened versions of “Home Town” to get a sense of what the show is like. It also offers a lot of shortened versions of “Bargain Block,” which I absolutely love! If you are curious about how to turn trash into treasure, watch a couple episodes of “Bargain Block.” I’m all into small spaces. My house isn’t a tiny home (1,074 square feet not including the “rec room” in the basement that isn’t legally counted as extra footage) but it isn’t a 2,000 square foot plus house either, and is more than large enough for me to roam in. The rooms are smaller than in the 2,000 plus square foot homes though. So I’m into smaller space decorating. My favorite used book “store” online is AbeBooks. Tons of used books on decorating, crafts and hobbies (including gardening) and the prices are great.
I’ll check out Abes.
I also buy used books frequently, especially art and home dec and also cookbooks. I have bought from AbeBooks, Thriftbooks, and also Amazon. On Amazon the used books links are listed on the same page w the new options. Also, you might love Hometown on HGTV! I watch on Hulu + Live TV but I think someone replied that Discovery has it and I think Prime may also have some seasons streaming but maybe not all. Each episode is distinct so if you see a season or two on a channel that you already have give a few episodes a watch!
Brenda, glad you are on the mend and got a goodnights sleep cuddling with Ivy in your cozy house! Loved the book reviews. Ben and Erin are adorable, watch them if you can. So many things are sure different since Covid, and not in a good way. But we are resilient and I will still find happiness every day being blessed living my simple life in our cozy little house! Take care and stay well everyone.
Brenda, glad to hear you are on the mend. I’ve been so lucky not to have had Covid But I do know too many who have . Erin Napiers show is called Home Town & it’s on HGTV. It’s a sweet show