Sitting area finally ready for sitting

We have always called it our “sitting area” although some people remember the huge stacks of bins and boxes, etc. that were piled there on moving day.  

As the weeks turned into months a few of you may remember hearing me exclaim about how I was getting it down to like only three rows deep under those windows. 

And then how excited I was as Row Two started to disappear.

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Well... during GoodStock at The Good Beans Cafe, my man checked out the rummage sale in the Anteroom and found a pair of cool chairs for our sitting area.  

So… it was time to tackle Row One for real. I am happy to report that I have now pared it down enough that we can actually sit there in our sitting area.  

Sitting room, library, lounge... whatever.

I call it progress!

It wasn’t until sometime later that we discovered

the lovely chairs once belonged to the amazing Sybyl Atwood. 

Totem Books, my local bookstore

I do love bookstores.  How can a book lover not like a place that is full of books?  And I love that Totem Books has one giant bookshelf on the OUTSIDE of the building.

Of the many wonderful murals around the city provided by the Flint Public Art Project, this is one of my favorites.  And because Totem Books is within a mile of my house I get to enjoy it every time I drive by.

But I don’t always just drive by.  Sometimes it is my destination - to actually go inside - for meetings or events or just to hang out.   I remember one of my first visits after we moved here seven years ago and I was wishing to meet other writers in my new city.  I came to Totem for a MeetUp writers’ group.  I did meet some new friends that night.  Thanks, MeetUp.  Thanks, Totem.  Such a wonderful place to gather.

Then the Flint Literary Festival hosted an open mic session at Totem - my first time at such an event. I have also attended author readings to celebrate newly-released books as well as other writerly events. I guess I got my wish because yes, some of those very writers are now my friends.  

However this little bookstore tour of mine during National Reading Month has helped me realize that I don’t come here very often for just a leisurely visit.  So this is a good chance to get personally acquainted with the place.       

I had wandered around the store enough to know that it is a cool and interesting place - feeling almost like an art museum - or yes, an artsy bookstore.

Most of the walls and a few of the shelves are lined with works of art - classic posters, paintings, ancient artifacts, and eclectic collections - amidst the stacks of books.  Most of them are used books, with a few new books available - mostly about Flint or written by Flint authors.

One really cool thing about Totem is their music section. Vintage vinyl records, CD’s and even cassette tapes… Wait; are there some 45’s?  And 8-tracks?  Maybe.  I'm losing track.  And what a range of genres and styles... from classic to country, easy listening, rock, soul, R&B… jazz and more jazz… blues… Oh, my.  Some of these might want to come home with me…

But wait!  What about the books?

• Art, architecture, art technique, art collections, art history, modern art
• Biographies, classics, kids’ classics, cars, travel
• History & mystery
• Nature, environment, pets, outdoor activities, sports
• Business, politics, psychology, religion, philosophy
• Drama, sci-fi/fantasy, true crime

Amazing.

But when will I find the time to read some of these?

I guess it’s time to get started!

This more intentional visit "just for me" has helped me realize that most of my Totem visits have been of the event/meeting type rather than personal ones.  Might be time to tip the balance.  I’ll still come to support my writer friends, of course, but I could also come more often to support the writer in me.  And the reader...    

My thanks to Aron, the manager, Rudy who is the newest staffer and introduced himself as the “low man on the totem pole,” and Frances, the all-around good sport…  Thank you all for making me feel welcome and at home. 

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Yes, I see what you did there, Rudy!

And yes. I love how these chairs are facing the stacks!

P.S.  I recently discovered an article from Gerret and Heather at Hidden Gems.  Totem Books: Uniquely Curated Used Bookstore & Coffee Shop.  Check it out!  Oops, I didn’t even mention the beverage options, did I?  

Objects are closer than they appear...

You know that little warning on your passenger-side mirror?

The one that says: 

That means that they are also larger than they appear.

...

I might want to keep such wisdom in mind when I establish my plans and goals for a given day - or week or month!  Sometimes I think I need a warning on my mirror.  A reminder...

Projects on my calendar are bigger than they seem.

They will take longer than I think.

Case in point.

My bookstore tour.

What a fun idea it was!

To celebrate National Reading Month I had set out to visit the independent bookstores in my county.  I got a good start, but not even close to finishing the list.  That project was obviously larger than I had calculated.

So... I shall extend my tour into the month of April... which will be just fine.  I'm feeling thankful that my schedule allows such flexibility.

Sure enough; today is Thursday and I am thankful.

Cottage Used Books

My map shows that Genesee County is not a simple rectangle, but shaped a bit like Alabama.  A little bit.  The next stop on my bookstore tour, Cottage Used Books in Goodrich, is tucked into the southeast corner of the county - quite near Lapeer County to the east and Oakland County a wee bit south.

From the parking lot I notice the Neighborhood Sandwich Shack at the right end of the building and wonder if they are “connected.”  

Sure enough, they are.  Kathy owns the book store and Gregg builds the sandwiches.  You can shop for books while waiting for your order. 

And yes, there are tables and chairs for relaxing with a book and a sandwich.  And maybe one of those amazing cookies!

I head off into a wondrous labyrinth of nooks and cubbies separated by shelves filled with books.  My, oh, my.  Where should I start?  Fortunately, there are helpful signs everywhere telling me what genre is featured in each little area.  And even if I don’t easily find what I’m looking for, I can step to the front desk and ask Kathy for a map.  Not even kidding.  She has created a map of the store!  What fun!

There are little sections for historical books and crazy mysteries and adventures and Westerns. There are cookbooks, craft books, biographies and memoirs.  There is a non-fiction room as well as rooms for kids and teens.  There are classics and children’s classics... and short stories and poetry and travel books.

As the name implies, Kathy sells only used books and yes, she accepts book donations for in-store credit.  Indeed I saw several people bringing in bags and boxes of books to donate.

Kathy’s daughter creates beautiful pieces of art from big old books and even teaches the skill to others in a book folding class.  For more information, you can visit them on Facebook or at their website.

These brown bags are very popular at $5 each.  

I enjoyed visiting with Kathy’s dad, Bruce, who engineered and built the shelves to form the nooks and pathways she designed and envisioned seven years ago.  Quite the multi-talented family right there.

The layout of the place is so delightful and informative that I have to wonder if Kathy has a history in bookstores before this.  If you count reading books and loving book places, then maybe so.  She remembers the times at the family cottage up north where she brought along books to read and then passed them around for others to read as well.  Maybe she began to imagine an even bigger cottage with room for even more books for more families to read and share.

I’d say she succeeded.

I’m impressed and delighted.  

And I’m planning my next visit to the Cottage.

Within walking distance!

Because March is National Reading Month, somebody suggested that it would be a good time to visit the various independent bookstores in Genesee County.  I had already been interested in doing such a thing sometime, so I did some research and started planning a couple road trips to do just that. I find it very cool that a couple on the list are within walking distance of my house.

It is wise to note that several of these independent bookstores operate with a small staff and therefore are not open every day of the week.  So I checked and double-checked Comma’s schedule, put on my walking shoes, and headed out on one of their open days early in the month.  Sadly, they were not open when I got there.  

March is not only National Reading Month but also Women’s History Month, providing some good window shopping.  I hung out for awhile and kept calling the number, but no answer so I eventually gave up and walked back home.  I guess I’ll  move Comma Books down my list a bit and try again once spring has really sprung.

Coming to a bookstore near you... National Reading Month!

For awhile now I’ve been fascinated with the idea of visiting independent bookstores across Michigan. I even created a special list of them on my Google map.  In fact, the other day we we were driving some side roads when one of those tags popped up on my map screen - just ahead of us.  How fun to be able to make a quick stop and check out Beloved Books in Linden. 

 

I had barely stepped inside when I was met by a really cool display of books about John Deere tractors.  Having been raised on a old John Deere “D” tractor, I quickly felt at home and was soon visiting with the lovely young owner, Olivia.  So many great stories!  Such history, some fun future plans… like a coffee shop opening in the same building very soon!  

Everything about the place felt just right including copies of several famous pieces of art by Renoir, Monet, and others - these wonderful reproductions having been done by the husband of the previous owner of the store.

I tried to hurry, but there were too many things to look at and to ask about - so I began making plans to come back in a few weeks.

Because, you see, March is National Reading Month and I had just stumbled upon a recent article featuring bookstores in Genesee County and suggesting that readers might want to explore them during this month.  

I think I’m ready to do just that.  Explore as many of those bookstores as I can during the month of March.  Some on the list seem to be closed now or have disappeared, but most of these seem to be viable options.

• A Bit of Earth, in the Flint Farmers’ Market
• Beloved Books, that I just discovered in Linden - and will return!
• Comma Books, downtown Flint, within walking distance for me!
• Cottage Used Books, Goodrich
• Lizz’s Books, and Open Book, both in Fenton
• R&B Used Books, Grand Blanc
• Totem Books, near downtown Flint.  I visit Totem often for one of their many cool events but also just to hang out reading, writing, or talking with a friend.  

Sure enough I am planning a Bookstore Tour for Reading Month this year - ending up back at Beloved Books when the new coffee shop is open!   

Curwood Castle

Built in 1922 in Owosso, Michigan, by author James Oliver Curwood as his writing studio, the castle is now open as a museum of his life and writing and his conservation efforts. I had first discovered the castle over a year ago (on a Monday when it’s not open!) and have been wanting to get back to see the inside.  

Such a cool place!
My young sidekick helped me push open the heavy wooden door as it creaked and groaned in protest… and we stepped into our adventure.

We perused the bookshelves filled with Curwood books.

We marveled over photos and stories.


So many stories…
33 adventure novels 

and countless articles

As we wandered around the large room on the main floor, we were careful not to bother the brown bear on the floor.

We sat at the big desk and thought about how many words had been written there and we wrote a few words of our own.

We climbed the narrow winding steps into the tower and found another writing desk between little port holes overlooking the river below.  

And then even more steps to the top floor of the tower with lovely tall windows all around the room.  I think this would have been my favorite writing spot.

We decided to check out the basement where we were discovered that many of Curwood’s stories had been made into movies.  In fact, we got there in time to watch a really exciting part of “The Bear.” 

It seems that James Curwood had been an avid trophy hunter in his early years until he had his own personal encounter with a wounded bear who let him live - after which he became a passionate conservationist and began writing from that new perspective.

“The greatest thrill is not to kill but to let live.”

 - James Oliver Curwood

Our adventure made us hungry so we went outside and found a lovely peaceful spot by the river for a little picnic.

What a great adventure!

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Photo cred to Bob Sims at SimsShots Photography for the cover shot at the top of this article.