Amazing sunset last night

I didn't get the best of it when it was all pinky.  We were watching a Anthony Bourdain episode on Paris.  He has the same idea as we do in terms of enjoying this wonderful city.  You really just have to  stumble around and enjoy the fabulous ambiance.

Venus was there too along with the new moon but it didn't show in the photo.

Great article on libraries in Canada in The Guardian

How Canada Created the World's Best Libraries

"Public libraries throughout the western world are struggling. Britain has closed hundreds since 2010, reduced hours in others and replaced many paid librarians with volunteers. In Belgium, an advocacy group called Public Libraries 2020 aims to “challenge outdated perceptions” of libraries – in part by cajoling politicians to set foot inside one. In North America, staff per visitor has fallen across the board since 2012, and circulation and visits are dropping. The “disruption” of Silicon Valley – in which Uber replaces taxis, Airbnb replaces hotels and Netflix replaces video stores – has many governments asking: why pay for physical book repositories when you can get so much reading material online?

The borrowers: why Finland's cities are havens for library lovers

 

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And yet researchers from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf have ranked Canada as having the best public library systems among 30 major cities studied. (All three Canadian cities included – Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver – came in the top 10.)

You can see why. Readings and events at the 575-seat theatre at the Toronto reference branch are free, and you’d be well advised to book your ticket early: a recent appearance by Roxane Gay sold out in 88 seconds. Sensibly, the researchers also rated the libraries on the availability of snacks – behind me is a cafe with Balzac quotes on the walls and urns of Margaret Atwood-themed coffee. Not bad, though no match for Montreal’s Grande Bibliothèque, where you can get a risotto dinner with wine."

Read the rest of the article here:

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/jun/15/risotto-robotics-and-virtual-reality-how-canada-created-the-worlds-best-libraries?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Vancouver Public Library

Toronto Public Library

Books and Berries and the Jane Austen Society meeting

The June meeting is a little different in that there isn't a speaker but people present books they have enjoyed usually with a Jane Austen connection of some kind. And strawberries and whipped cream and other yummy desserts with berries make up dessert and of course all the usual goodies people bring for the finger food buffet.

And there is a book sale.  Donna helped with it this year and it made around $80.

I really enjoyed the book review presentations and have already put a hold on the Bill Bryson book, "The Road to Little Dribbing: further notes from a small island".  I just loved Notes From a Small Island.

And I bought some books.

It was a bright sunny day and I couldn't resist wearing my lemon top!

Donna counting the proceeds of the book sale.

And the books I bought...one at $2 then four at the last minute reduced price of 25 cents...a good deal.

I am curious to read Allan Fotheringham again...a columnist everyone loved in Vancouver.  And we loved Birmingham so couldn't pass this up for a quarter.

From the blog of Susan K.

Susan does all sorts of wonderful art creations and calligraphy.  I loved these from her blog and the juxtoposition of Dr. Seuss and Van Gogh.

I find Ben Shahn inspired letters very inviting...inviting me to play with nesting, ligatures, and tools. These were done with an Itoya broad edged calligraphy marker.  

And loved this too.

And I just had to include a some Van Gogh paintings...any excuse!

Encouraging reading...says it all.

 

Jim's Spanish colleague never fails to surprise

Jim received two books that his colleague in Spain recently published. He is so prolific and a great guy. He showed us all around the Alhambra when we were in Grenada in 2010.  We really look forward to seeing him again at the Huxley Conference in the south of France in 2020.  And he wrote a very nice dedication and mentioned me as well! He is a sweetheart.

And we had a wonderful lunch at Las Margaritas and our favourite server was our server.  All's well with the world.  All our usual orders were perfect.

Jim looks like he is in heaven...

Itty Bitty Book Review: "The Good Pilot Peter Woodhouse"

"The Good Pilot Peter Woodhouse" by Alexander McCall Smith

McCall Smith does it again with a completely different novel than the series he is famous for.  This takes place mainly in WW II and about friendships and connections on all sides.  It is vintage McCall Smith focusing on the good in people,

My DNA came in today

Well, I was sure I had some Indigenous blood since the Fleming side of the family has been in Canada for almost 300 years and I do have dark features and since I have so much Scandinavian.  My maternal grandmother was born in Sweden and my paternal grandmother's maiden name was McGregor.  Richard had his DNA done a number of years ago and nothing Indigenous showed up but I was still hanging onto a thread that perhaps they didn't get if quite right. It isn't a perfect science.

Itty Bitty Book Review: "Sophie and Cecilia"

"Sophie and Cecilia" by Katherine Ashenburg

This novel appealed to me as it takes place around the time when my grandmother was a young woman in Sweden and takes place there. I enjoyed about half of it and then it lost my interest.Sofie and Cecila are wives of celebrated Swedish artists Carl Larsson and Anders Zorn (Nils Olsson and Lars Vogt in the novel). But I did reflect that I rather liked the historiical fiction idea and didn't realize I have actually read quite a bit of it. I thought the genre had to be based on real people but it seems all of Jane Austen and probably most of Dickens fits the genre.

From Wiki:
An essential element of historical fiction is that it is set in the past and pays attention to the manners, social conditions and other details of the period depicted.^[1] Authors also frequently choose to explore notable historical figures in these settings, allowing readers to better understand how these individuals might have responded to their environments. Some subgenres such as alternate history and historical fantasy insert speculative or ahistorical elements into a novel.

Some paintings by Carl Larsson

Some paintings from  Anders Zorn

What a lark...so much fun!

My oldest friends, Linda and Carol (and husbands) came for a visit today.  We grew up together and have known each other since we were four years old. Linda is into all things British and we figured she would enjoy "The Diner" and Stella.  Well, that was an understatement!  Linda, and everyone, just absolutely loved the experienc!  It's pretty special and we all ended up singing and having a wonderful time.

Linda mentioned something about some song about Ilkley and Tom (Stella's husband) knew all the lyrics and they sang it together...wow...such laughs we had.  I hope the little videos I took will upload.

All this British stuff...

Linda and Carol

The "boys" ...Stella made a special point of putting the Union Jacks on our table...so sweet.

Tom and Stella...great folks and really know how to make people feel like you're in "Old Blighty".

Sunday roast beef dinner with super Yorkshire pudding.

Linda having a laugh with Tom.

Linda, Carol, Jim, Dave

Stella and Tom who make it all happen.

Cec and Linda renewing their wedding vows with a candy ring from Stella.

 Dave and Carol renewing their wedding vows with a candy ring from Stella.

Linda and Tom singing the Ilkley song...hope this works.  Well, doesn't seem to. Well, one more try.

I think I managed it this time!

Stella and Tom singing "Glasgow belongs to me"...well,  I think that's the name of it.