Happy Book Lovers Day!

Today is National Book Lovers Day and if you had to pick one favorite book from your youth, what would it be? I'd pick the Nancy Drew series because it got me into reading as a hobby and not just when I had time. A friend pointed them out in the school library when we were in 5th or 6th grade and I remember my first one—Mystery At The Ski Jump. Then I basically just devoured the rest of the series.

I found Nancy to be brave and sassy and smart and completely capable, which is all I wanted to be. She handled adults, dangers and friends with ease. She had friends, family and a boyfriend, as well as many admirers in the community. She also had her detractors, but Nancy never let them bother her.

When I started reading the series, my mom told me she had read them too, in the earlier versions, like this one below. I loved that we shared these stories as girls. So, when I had a daughter, I introduced her to the ones I'd read, and then she found the newer versions, both anime style below and the first-person narrative novels. I read those too, just for fun! And both she and my son enjoy the Nancy Drew online games, though she is more obsessed by them and he'll just play for fun...I think she owns all of them.

I think the real charm and staying power of this character is simply a capable and fun heroine who has help but will always be the brains behind the investigations and who is pragmatic and determined to get to the bottom of things. I like that she's constantly upgrading to a better character too. 

My daughter (now nearly 25) and I had a movie date last month where we watched the newest Nancy Drew movie. It has a plucky heroine who is a little younger than in the books but just as sassy and who goes her own way. And, of course, she solves the mystery! I also bought us matching Nancy Drew tote bags just because they were on sale!

 

I have a stack of books from the library right now and I think today's the perfect day to start a new one with a cup of tea and a cookie...don't you?

WINNER OF MY CRAFTY GIVEAWAY: @creativecarmen61 from Instagram

Happy Friday!

Chark

Doodling The Night Away

So, last night we were catching up on some tv, Elementary is one of my faves, and I had a pad of paper and a pen and everyone knows that means I doodled the whole time.

Here's what I came up with, among other stuff. I found this quote by Richard Burton, who is apparently not the actor associated with Liz Taylor, but some dude who lived in the 1800s. But that's ok, I love the quote!

I'd already drawn the cocoa and just had to color and trim it out. I couldn't resist making the marshmallows have faces, but that's kind of sad, because presumably they'll be melting. Oh well, they look like they're having fun! 

I based this on Nancy Drew who always seems to rely on cocoa and cinnamon toast for a tasty snack...and she's not wrong, it is tasty. Here's the original cover of one of her cinnamon toasts snacks from the 30s and the one I read from the 60s.

Happy Monday,
Chark