Saturday started out with sort of loose plans.  Denny and I wanted to visit the vintage shop where we had seen a bar globe recently, and we were thinking about going to a swing dance that evening, but it wound up being an hour and a half from our home, and being in the car for 3 hours on a Saturday night just didn’t seem like the thing to do.

After a productive morning of travel planning (hooray for summer vacations!), we set off to the vintage store in a nearby and very tiny town.  For the first Saturday in March, it was splendidly warm – windows down warm, even!  So, we strolled down the main street and, sadly, found that the vintage store was temporarily closed due to a change in management.  However, it was not a wasted trip, as the old book shop, which had been closed when last we visited, was open!

Upon entering, we were greeted by two very friendly shop cats and the comforting smell of old books.  I’ll have to admit, I didn’t do much perusing of the books, at first.  Denny, being allergic to cats, wasted no time in disappearing into the maze of shelves.  I, on the other hand, sat on the floor to say a proper hello to the kitties.

I did finally tear myself away, and I discovered many classic titles with beautifully-decorated spines and gilded lettering.  Denny picked up a recent copy of the adventures of Robin Hood, which was bound in a vibrant green, as well as an H.G. Wells volume containing The War of the Worlds on one side, and The Time Machine on the other, flipped, if that makes sense.  As we were headed back to the front of the shop, Denny pointed out a little hardback with an illustration of a fox on the cover, and I had to stop to investigate.

Lady on the Hunt, by Clinch Calkins.  The author was born as Marion Clinch Calkins, and she later married Charles Marquis Merrell.  Her story is a rather interesting one, and I wish I could give you some links, but I couldn’t find much about her online.  Tucked inside the book was a copy of a newspaper article about Mrs. Merrell’s death in 1968.  She had been living in McLean, Virginia, which, for those who don’t know, is near where I live and is horse country, thus the subject matter of the novel.  She was a popular poet, and she also wrote political speeches and a book about industrial espionage!

With the author’s interesting story, the adorable artwork (I love foxes!), and the local subject matter of the book, I had to have it.  Denny sweetly added it to his purchases, then we said goodbye to the kitties and headed back out into the sunshine.  On the way back to the car, we spotted a shiny, pink ‘57 Chevy, which I thought would complement my vintage wardrobe beautifully!

Not wanting to head back inside and waste the gorgeous day, we drove around the area and looked at houses that might fit the bill for dream house.  We saw a few potentials, and some lovely swaths of land with green, rolling hills and mountain views.  We even saw a Victorian-inspired house with not one, but two turrets, tucked into a corner marked by old trees.  I was smitten, of course.  I wish I could show you pictures, but I didn’t want to photograph a stranger’s home without permission.

With visions of dream house dancing in our eyes, we headed home at sunset, and Denny made my favorite pancakes for dinner: blueberry and white chocolate chip.  Mmmmm!  For himself, Denny also threw in some of the bacon-milk chocolate chips I gave him for Valentine’s Day, and I have to say, they were pretty tasty, as well.

After our scrumptious dinner, we topped the day off with a fun evening of dominoes at my parents’ house.

Despite most of our plans falling through or being ignored, it was a lovely Saturday, and I’m very much looking forward to our next whim-based adventure.

SWAK!