... as opposed to a previous post on Pretend Shopping ... ;-)
When going through my summer wardrobe recently, I did not feel any urgent need to go shopping for new summer clothes - which is just as well, considering the general circumstances just now. One accessory I still felt I really wanted was a new handbag/shoulder bag, though. (As one or two attentive readers might remember, I did have a peek at one such market stall last weekend but did not find any there that matched what I was looking for.) Yesterday, I tried my luck at a small shop in the city centre that sells bags (and only bags). The door was open, no other customers inside, and I found what I was looking for immediately - the right shape and size, weatherproof, and in a nice blue colour. The purchase took only a minute or two - my favourite kind of shopping just now. And it was on sale (25% off)!
Today, while pleased with the new shoulder bag, I realised that I also really could do with a new 'belt bag' (fanny pack or bum bag or whatever you call it)... I recalled that I had seen one of those in the shop yesterday as well, in the same colour and brand as the handbag. So I went back today and bought that one as well.
Today I decided to walk past the new mural again, and was lucky: This time I found the artist (Shai Dahan) at work. The photos are zoomed in from the park across the river.
"I mustn't forget, I'm alive, I know I'm alive, I mustn't forget it tonight or tomorrow or the day after that."
Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine
The dandelions are in bloom en masse along the path down by the river just now... It's a short path, but I often walk from one end to the other and then turn around and walk back again - just because I like the spot. (And ignoring the apartment blocks on the other side of the river the best I can, with the camera!)
At home, I'm currently re-reading one of my favourite books (a classic I first read in my teens or early twenties - then in Swedish translation - but have returned to several times since then). This time I'm listening to it as audio book (recently bought), narrated by David Aaron Baker.
The book is set in 1928, in a small town in Illinois, and inspired by the author's own childhood memories. "A magical timeless summer in the life of a twelve-year-old boy named Douglas Spaulding" (quoting the blurb). The book title, Dandelion Wine, refers to the idea (or wish) of bottling memories just like home-made wine.
Each chapter is really a short story in itself (with Douglas sometimes the main character but sometimes just witness of events). One of my favourite chapters is about a short but sweet and special friendship between a young man and a 95-year-old lady.
"We don't seem to have much time now."
"No, but perhaps there will be another time. Time is so strange and life is twice as strange. The cogs miss, the wheels turn, and lives interlace too early or too late. I lived too long that much is certain. And you were born either too early or too late. It was a terrible bit of timing. ---"
Normally the past weekend would have included a busy Spring Market in the the city centre on Friday and Saturday, with not only the square but also the streets nearby full of market stalls. This year (because of the corona-related restrictions), only like half a dozen local stallholders had been invited; and with the stalls well spread out so as not to cause crowding. I did go into town on Friday morning to have a look - mostly just out of curiosity, and prepared to just turn around if it should be crowded anyway. As you can see, though, there was no real danger of that...
I did go up to that white tent in the second photo to have a closer peek. They were selling hand-made leather bags/purses and wallets. Nice, but not quite my style - so I did not buy any. (I need mine to be a certain size and with lots of pockets to be practical...)
Outside my usual florist's shop I found something I liked, though. Among all the other plants to choose from, they had also prepared some ready-to-go bags with three plants that would fit nicely in a standard balcony-box. I found this a really creative idea, especially just now, to avoid crowds and queuing. I fell for this one at once, with pink geraniums + white lavender. (I knew I wanted geraniums but probably would not have thought of the lavender myself.) Easy quick purchase, just grabbing the bag and paying by card (there was also no queue just then).
A couple of weeks ago, I posted about a new mural in my city - then not feeling quite sure if the background (then just a sketchy city silhouette in black & white) was supposed to look like it did then, or if it was still a work in progress.
Today, I went back to check on it - and now there is no doubt: A lot has happened since I last saw it, but there is obviously still more to come! (Of course I'm now also thinking I should have realized...! But it is hard to know with Art sometimes, isn't it!?)
Linking to Weekend Reflections #556
