Inspiration From The Distant Past

Inspiration From The Distant Past
Found note in an old book... warms the cockles of my bookish heart...

Monday, April 12, 2010

Out Of Reach...

Ended a wonderful spring weekend trip to the Ozarks and Branson, Missouri with Sunday breakfast at BillyGail's, a popular local dive located in an old gas station. (If you aren't familiar with Branson, it is like Las Vegas without the sin-- tame and tacky but still fun.)

While waiting for our order to arrive, I looked around at all the vintage knickknacks. Just happened to glance up and guess what I spotted on a beam...
Three old worn books sitting all by their lonesome. Sad forgotten books... well, I'm speculating that they are forgotten... possibly Billy or Gail remember the books are there. Still, the mere thought of those books sitting so far out of reach is worrisome, isn't it. Do you know how much I yearned to open the covers and read a few pages? Maddening, I tell you.

I settled for taking a few photos to share with my bloggy friends and imagining how I might reach the books if I was a super hero. Fanciful but kept me entertained till breakfast arrived. Didn't realize till later that my family never even looked up at the beam or asked what had me so enthralled--- guess they are too used to my bizarre behavior to be interested or embarrassed.


Here is a closeup of the books. The only title I can read is Hans and Hilda of Holland by Laura Rountree Smith. Couldn't find a bio of the author (1876-1924) but she wrote many children's books and books for teachers. A few of her other titles include: Fairy Babies, Cottontails, Little Eskimo, Snubby Nose and Tippy Toes. Don't they sound cute?

Really wish I could have read a bit of Hans and Hilda... and I'm dying to know the titles of the other two books. Next time, should I ask for a ladder or would that be going too far?

7 comments:

  1. Oh, you must have been tormented! The titles remind me of Cuddlepot and Snugglepie.

    ReplyDelete
  2. +JMJ+

    As for a ladder. ;)

    While I think that books are the best "decoration" a house can have, I also think the poor things want to be within arm's reach when a reader is around.

    ReplyDelete
  3. @DeLynne-- I thought of Cuddlepot and Snugglepie too-- haven't found it yet-- didn't find it on amazon or book depository-- maybe a library has it and I can get it through interlibrary loan.

    @E-- Is that a dare? ;o) Cause I'll do it-- I have no shame...

    ReplyDelete
  4. +JMJ+

    Yes, it's a dare!!! =P I'm as curious to know the titles of the other two books as you are!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh dear me, I can't handle that decor. I mean, what's the point? A fan? And what is the thing mounted on the strait board? Or is this just their wannabe attic for storage?

    I live in sin city and wouldn't mind some "tame". Oh, now I get it. After looking at this picture, I understand the "tacky" part, too.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hah! It does look like an attic!

    Kim it was beyond tacky-- it was downright ugly. I decided the thing on the straight board was a foodmill of some sort but there was a large wooden framelike thing hanging off the beam down from the fan (not in the pic) that I never did figure out. Many restaurants in the south decorate with vintage finds but there is usually a theme-- this was just a crazy mixed up jumble.

    Guess I should have used 'gaudy' instead of 'tacky'-- Branson is all flashing lights and neon like Vegas but no drinking and gambling. But it is tourist trap tacky-- lots of go-carts, souvenier shops, ect. I didn't see that kind of tacky in Vegas.

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  7. E, Funny, I am ruminating on books as decor...

    L, Let me know how you go on your Snugglepot search. It is an Aussie classic (like it says on the cover), and I am surprised it's not more readily available.

    K, In 2011 I am crossing the big pond and will pop into Vegas. We'll have to meet up in a bookstore. Do they have them in Vegas? hee hee

    ReplyDelete

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