I finally made it back into the woods today. Our last hike was in April and the time before that is a fuzzy memory. Mind you, I live in the woods but this is different.
Hiking is different.
Stepping out of the grass and onto a trail softened by pine needles is different than the loud crunch of a stone driveway. Reaching out to touch the rough bark of a tree, eyes following the trunk as it reaches toward the sun is different than just glancing at the tree line of your yard while you carry in groceries. Closing your eyes to appreciate the texture of that bark beneath your fingertips generates strength and energy.
Listening to the sounds of the forest change as you follow a trail away from civilization is one of life’s gifts. The variety of birds, insects, bees and frogs chattering amongst themselves is unbelievable if you stop and really listen for it.
The aroma of honeysuckle mingled with decomposing wood and leaves ought to be bottled and sold because there’s nothing like it.
We need the textures and sounds, the beauty and smells of these places for our own mental health as much as the creatures who live in them need these spaces for their survival.
People who work to protect these public places are heroes in my story and those who aim to destroy them are the villains .
If you are like me and live in the woods, I hope you are actually doing something to enjoy the experience. There’s nothing like it and you will feel so much better. If you’re aren’t sure where to start, Lake Hope State Park in Vinton County, Ohio is a good place to hit the trail!
One of the main activities of my Pittsburgh trip last month was a bookstore crawl.
You see, the greater Pittsburgh area is home to dozens of independent bookstores. That doesn’t count the chains like Barnes and Noble or Half Price Books.
That’s just the small guys.
On previous trips we have made a decent dent in that list of local book shops but decided to make an effort to hit a few more.
Here’s where we went:
Amazing Books and Records.
This store specializes in used books and records. In a rare instance of restraint, I didn’t find anything but my friend left with a decent stack. It has a cool vibe with smooth music, coffee brewing, and a guy behind the counter who charmed me by recommending a couple of other stores in the neighborhood. I liked his sense of community among local businesses. Visit them here.
Riverstone Books
Just down the street we explored Riverstone Books which sells basically everything I would ever want to read and some things I didn’t know I need to read. This is a delightful store with a small but mighty nonfiction section amidst a robust collection of fiction, children’s books and bookish things. They host author talks and other events that made me want to come back. There’s also a French bakery a couple of doors down, in case you need to know.
Stay Gold Books
In terms of footprint, this store is small. However, this is a carefully curated collection where it feels like every book has earned its spot on the shelf. There’s a comfy sofa and the place is run by some lovely people so I was glad to linger here. Visit them here.
Kards Unlimited
This is a cool gift shop with a fantastic selection of books. So it’s not a dedicated bookstore but that’s half the fun. Not only do they have a good mix of the popular and obscure in books, there’s jewelry, blown glass ornaments, paper goods and lots of novelty items. Visit them here.
Beyond Bedtime Books
I have written about this used bookstore before. It’s really packed in there but everything is tidy and organized and you never know what you’ll find. I picked up a like- new signed copy of a Marie Benedict book for just a few dollars. There’s a small bakery down the block with amazing brownies. In case you need to know. Read about them here.
We also stopped at a Barnes and Noble so I could pick up the new Bella Grace Field Guide which is a different story for another day. We had three more bookstores on our agenda for that day but ran out of time. I think we ran out of time because we kept stopping for brownies and macarons but that’s also a story for another day.
We have goals for next time.
In case you’re keeping track, that’s six bookstores in a day plus a seventh in Bedford. We won’t discuss all the baked goods and candy involved in this trip!
We were sitting at a traffic light in Bedford, Pa when I glanced over to see these door handles. In case you can’t see well, that’s because I snapped the photo from the car as we started to move again.
Each one is shaped like a peacock and I found them utterly charming.
The world would be more tolerable if we all tried to add just a touch of whimsy to whatever we are doing.
Upgrading the door handles from basic builder grade to a splash of flamboyance made all the difference to brighten this building and grab attention.
How about that?
Why choose boring when you can have whimsy? Let’s give it a whirl and see how much more engaging and fun the world can be with a few different choices!
I mostly hated school when I was a kid but thought the last few days were ok. We usually had some free time for reading and the pace was a little nicer.
This image made me smile and remember. Perhaps it will do the same for you too!
When days are hard, I think it’s fair to remind yourself that your pet thinks you’re pretty great. They really are wonderful little friends.
That’s all for today. Have a great evening!