I Won A Giveaway!

A few weeks ago, Mary, over at Home is Where The Boat Is offered the cutest giveaway and it was all about reading, flip flops and fun in the sun, and since those are some of my favorite things I entered.  Sand Pail Selections and Flip Flops! is such a colorful, fun post and I quickly fell in love with the book selections, sand castles, flip flops and of course, the sangria! Here is a photo of Mary's delightful giveaway prizes.

When my box of goodies arrived I could barely contain my excitement! I've never won anything, EVER!!

Isn't this exciting? I almost forgot to take pictures, but came to my senses before I ripped into this wonderful box of goodness! 

As I gently unpacked the box taking care not to tear anything, I cherished every little item. I'm corny like that. Having never won anything before I didn't want the moment to end!

I couldn't stand it any longer, so the tissue started flying! Keeper, my Bichon, thought Mama was going crazy! She looked at me as if to say, "One more squeal and I'm outta here!" She's pretty camera shy so I told her that Mary's Bichons, Chloe and Gracie, pose all the time for pictures and are featured regularly in Mary's posts. She reluctantly gave in. Okay, I bribed her, but then she must have sniffed that a Bichon had been near the gifts, so she began to sit and pose and I went to town taking her picture. My girl will not be outdone!

I absolutely love the goodies I received! As a reader I'm always on the lookout for new and different books and the two books included, Chasing Fireflies and Amaryllis in Blueberry, are next on my reading list. This was such a wonderful gift to receive during these end of Summer days and I couldn't be more pleased.

Thank you so very much, Mary, Chloe and Gracie! We love our gifts!

Hugs,

Susan and Keeper

So Many Books, So Little Time

One thing I've always known about myself is that I am a true book junkie. I love the covers, the smell of the paper, the weight of a book in my hands and the written word. I've loved to read since I was a toddler and could hold a book and pretend I was reading. I remember how excited I was when I first learned how to read and I would practice my reading every moment I wasn't outside playing with friends.
When I was in 4th grade, Mrs. Shaw, the librarian at Dean Road Elementary School, finally told me, "Susan, you've read every book in here". I know that was an exaggeration, but it wasn't completely untrue. The only books I hadn't read were a few in the science category. I did read most of them, though. My favorites at that time were biographies of historical figures and I can still see the covers in my mind. I also was a Nancy Drew fanatic. I went to Grant's at Glendean Shopping Center faithfully every week to see if a new Nancy Drew book was on the shelf. Of course, I was too young to know they only came out every few months, but I could hope, and imagine my joy when there it was, a brand new Nancy Drew with a yellow, textured cover and a title that just begged to be read. I couldn't get home with my new prize fast enough. I would devour my new book in hours and then the wait for the next one would start all over again.
In my books I was a president, a detective, a nurse, an explorer, a doctor, you name it and I was happy. I would visit the most wonderful, exotic places like Pine Valley, River Heights, Sleepyside, a pirate ship or the museum. Most of my friends couldn't relate to my love of books, but I just knew they were jealous when I would tell them of my latest adventure.
Over the years my tastes have changed, but one fact remains, I still love books. I go to the bookstore faithfully every week searching out the newest mystery, cookbook, biography, devotional or magazine. My to be read pile is more of a to be read wall, but it makes me happy to see those beloved and cherished books full of new friends ready to welcome me into their world.