If you subscribe to the Between Naps on the Porch newsletter, Postcards from the Porch, you know I always highlight a couple of books I’m reading that week at the end of each newsletter. Sometimes the books are recent finds, other times they are books I’ve had for a years and have pulled back off the shelf to enjoy again.
A few months ago I ordered the book, Forgotten Bookmarks, a book Amazon recommended to me based on my previous purchases. You may remember seeing it in a newsletter since it’s one of those books I like to revisit from time to time. I love books, love everything about them. I love the way they feel, love turning the pages but most of all I love the people and places I meet between those pages.
Forgotten Bookmarks is such a neat concept, a great idea for a book. The author, Michael Popek grew up in the world of books. His parents were booksellers, selling books online and eventually opening their own brick and mortar store. After time spent away at college, Michael returned back home to help with the family business.
After becoming the manager for his family’s brick and mortar store, Michael states in the book, “My most important task as manager was buying and sorting books. This particular task had quite a learning curve, but I was happy to dive into the mountain of unsorted books to see what I could find. What I found is that I love the the fact that I could come across nearly anything: a moldy copy of Ulysses, a Victorian-era scrapbook filled with trade cards, a first edition of Steinbeck. This treasure hunt still remains my favorite part of bookselling and led directly to my fascination with forgotten bookmarks.” (You’ll find Michael Popek’s online site here: Forgotten Bookmarks)
In his book, Forgotten Bookmarks, Michael shares some of the fascinating treasures he’s found left behind in books over the years. You won’t believe some of the things he found, some were romantic, some were scary, some were illegal!
Recently, I had my own experience with forgotten bookmarks. Here’s how it all started, my recent journey into the secret lives found between the pages.
Knowing one of my fave designers, Mario Buatta was greatly influenced by the English decorator, John Fowler, I took a look on Amazon to see if I could find the book Mario mentioned in the video embedded in this previous post: Mario Buatta: Fifty Years of American Interior Decoration. I found a book I was pretty sure was the one he had mentioned. Once it arrived I knew it was the right book because the end papers were covered with the fabric pattern he had mentioned in the video.
Most of the books I buy on Amazon are used. I always look for those listed in “Like New” or “Very Good” condition with great seller feedback. The book, John Fowler, Prince of Decorators, per the sticker inside the front flap, was originally priced at $65. If you buy it new from Amazon right now, it is currently listed at $50.09. I found a copy listed in “very good” condition for just $7.90. Yay!
When the book arrived last week, I couldn’t wait to read it. When I opened it, I was surprised to find it filled with quite a few “forgotten bookmarks.” I loved the little glimpse I got into the life of the previous owner of my book and I couldn’t resist sharing it with you.
In this post, I’ve included six of the “forgotten bookmarks” I found inside. It is amazing how much you can learn about a person by reading through their “to do” list. I felt a kindred spirit with my book’s previous owner because we enjoy so many of the same things and some days my to-do list looks very similar. I start out with good intentions but don’t always get to those less-desirable chores. 🙂
I wonder what “seal beans” meant? Do you think she has one of those “seal-a-meal” thingies and maybe she bought a bunch of fresh beans to put up for later? Did you ever have one of those? My sister and I both did and I did use it for several years.
Okay, we already know we would like this person if we met her because she likes to hit the garage sales and is a bit of a DIYer. She’s also a stickler for doing things correctly since there’s a trip to the library planned to make sure she hangs the blinds correctly. I wonder if this list was made before we all started looking everything up online. Nowadays, you could probably find directions right online for hanging blinds.
She likes to cook and definitely likes to be prepared, cutting up the ingredients in advance and freezing them for later. Wonder if she purchased the tomatoes and peppers at a Farmer’s Market or grew them herself? Wonder what kind of Teddy was getting washed on Sunday? Since it’s capitalized, I’m wondering if it’s a pet named Teddy or maybe a Teddy Bear. What do you think?
I’m a big list maker from way back. I can’t function without a list. Think she was getting ready for a party or for weekend guests? There’s some intense cleaning planned, the kind you don’t always do on a weekly basis. We know she loves plants/gardening because she needs a pot for a fern. And I think we may have a tablescaper here because she’s planning on buying lanterns for the kitchen table. 🙂
Yep, definitely a DIYer with plans for putting up a hand towel holder (see list above) and she’s buying Liquid Nails in Wally World. I used Liquid Nails for the first time when I made a Pottery Barn knock-off wood flag for the 4th of July and it worked great.
She also knows how to relax after all that DIY work, a nice long soak in the tub with soothing bath salts.
She likes to decorate, too. Something tells me she and I have lot in common. Besides buying the same book about John Fowler, a love for English Country design, enjoying fresh vegetables, cooking, gardening, decorating and the occasional DIY project, she likes Seagrass baskets, too. Ummm, wonder if she found some similar to those I bought for my home office here: Buffalo Check Curtains for the Office. Think we should check out Sherwin Williams SW-7058, Magnetic Gray paint? 🙂
She also worries about the same things we all do, fighting the battle of the cellulite!
Do you ever buy previously-owned books? Ever found any “forgotten bookmarks” between the pages, giving you a little glimpse into the life of the person who loved the book before you?
I love this post. That book would have quadrupled in value for me if I had found such wonderful snippets into the life of someone unknown. I love mysteries.
Susan, I know. Me too. So cool finding all those lists! 🙂
Oh Susan that is just so neat – what an interesting topic.
I would be so embarassed if I left a to-do list in my library or owned books…………..
I have found a few recipes and coupons in books – and yes I ONLY buy used books. It is very seldom I buy new, unless a long-awaited sequel to a series, then it is a must.
You are too funny! My to-do list probably wouldn’t make sense to anyone. lol Yep, love those used books!
I love this lady too!. It seems like de ja vu for me. I’m a list maker as well. Made me stop and wonder how many unfinished chores I may have lurking around in bookmarked books. HaHa! Susan, this was a great post.
🙂 It takes me all week to get through the first day of my list sometimes…always running behind! Thanks, Lori!
I only buy used books on amazon! I’ve gotten books with inscriptions and will keep those always. The most important paper I found in a book was a 3×5 card with a young lady’s name on it and a few things listed tht she wanted to do in life. At the time he was 13 yrs old. No date when it was written. I put the card on my fridge and say prayer for at least once a month. I pray that she knows jesus and gets her hearts desire. You did hit the mother lode with what you found! I also have the bookmarks and receive his posts. Thanks for sharing.
That is so sweet Sarita! I wonder how old she is today? I didn’t realize he was still posting. I had found his old blog and the last post was in 2011, but I searched again after I read your comment and found his current site and linked to it in this post.
He also gives books away on Fridays.
That’s great!
Two places she wrote to bleach car mats. Finally on noth piece of paper she wrote buy car mats…wonder what happened? Cat get sick on the mats? Child bleed on them? Potting soil from the fern? Hmmmm…
Good question…I do wonder.
I buy used books whenever I can. They have a story and I love that! Little notes left in them, even better!
Definitely! 🙂
Sorry…one more…she used coffee grounds as scrub then rinsed off in the shower. No note about having to call plumber for clogged up shower?! It kind of made me sad reading all of the cellulite stuff she went through..
I was thinking that may have been a list she found somewhere, either online or in a book because it was part of several papers that were stapled together and they all had to do with taking care of the skin, along with a 20 minute exercise program. So that may have been a general list and not one she created.
Sarita, I just reread that list…I don’t see how anyone could be disciplined enough to keep that cellulite regiment up!
Susan, I loved this post! She must have had a lot of jewelry that needed organizing. LOL
🙂 That would be a nice problem to have!
That must of been such fun finding those lists…sounds like she had a big family with all those..2 loads of laundry every other day…one of my dearest friends bought a very old baking cookbook…it had notes written in it with the recipes…changes she made and thought it was better…some were for the next owner of the book…letting you know not to even bother…don’t waste your time and money on this one! I like when I find a cookbook on amazon and it says it has writing in it…whoooo hooo that’s the one I’ve buy…those are usual much cheaper too.
That’s such a great point, Wende. Cookbooks are one book you definitely hope there will be some notes inside. I know I write in mine and jot down changes I think improve the recipe or make it work better for me and my family.
I have original Betty Crocker red and white plaid book. When I die and someone looks through it they will find a few love notes from a past boyfriend. I hope my sons find the notes! Realize that mom had life at one time!! 🙂
Awesome! 🙂
What a fun post Susan! I love, Love, LOVE used book stores. I collect old cookbooks and have really found some wonderful ones over the years. Some have names and notes written inside. Coffee and tea circle stains. Grocery and to do lists. And I too often wonder who these people are. I always look at the penmanship…so beautiful. You think about this person going thru the book and deciding what to make for her family. Does she have a husband and children? A big country garden? How old is she? I love that I’m holding someones history in my hands. And a little mystery too! Thank you for sharing!
I know, I know…me too! I wonder all those things, too. Kerry, you might like a book I found a few months ago called “My Bookstore.” They interviewed 84 well known authors and asked them what was there favorite bookstore and why. The stories they tell are so interesting. It made me want to visit ALLLLL the bookstores mentioned in the book. Wouldn’t that be a fun road trip!
I received a book that was my dad’s. He passed away Jan.1, 2012. Inside the book was a letter he wrote. I don’t know what was better the book or being able to hear my dad again.
Maddie, that is special. That would have made me cry, for sure. So glad it was in there and that you found it.
What a hoot, Susan, seeing this unknown woman’s lists. I was struck by how different she makes her lists from how I make mine. Something I never thought about before. Thanks for sharing this wonderful post with us.
I too love to buy used books. After months of searching I finally found a copy of the child’s cookbook I learned to cook from when I was young. What a treasure and I keep it on display in my kitchen.
Oh, I love that Nancy. So glad you found a copy!
I picked up a 1999 Junior League of Atlanta True Grits cookbook at Good Will several months ago. Their hardbacks are always $2.50 so I got an almost new $27.95 book for one tenth the price. The book looked like it had never been opened except there were some recipes that had been zeroxed and some cut out of newspaper with notes to a friend named Stacy. Makes me wonder if she ever delivered the book. I got 2 more today and I will let you know if I find any treasure once I have time to take a look at them. One was a Southern Living Picnics and Porch Dinners and another one a fancy entertaining one. This was a great article-thanks susan.
That is a great deal on that! Southern Living cookbooks are always so good. I’ve never had a dud recipe from one. Thanks Sandi!
Hi Susan! This post made me smile. I think it was sometime last year, you posted about the book “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” I had heard about it, but never read it. So … I was intrigued after your post and went either to Amazon or eBay and purchased a used copy of the book. I was surprised, and delighted to find three forgotten bookmarks; the first was a postcard with a picture of Mercer House, and the second and third were plane ticket stubs from Atlanta to Hartford/Springfield. The book is also autographed (I’m not sure if that is a real autograph or was just printed with the books.) I felt like I had come across a real treasure, and wondered who owned the book and if they lived in Georgia or Missouri. My biggest question, however, was why sell the book? Once I own a book, I never give it up! Finding these little treasures encouraged me to do a little of the same. A few years ago, my son gave me a book written by a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. After the Phillies won the World Series in 2008, I tucked my ticket stubs from Game 4 into that book. Someday, my children or grandchildren will come across that book, and hopefully find those ticket stubs and know how important that game (and the book!) was to me.
That is so neat, Karen. It sounds like they flew into Atlanta, then maybe drove over to Savannah for the tour. Or, maybe they flew on to Savannah from Atlanta. The book I have was already autographed. I bought mine in the bookstore that’s actually featured in the book, forgotten the name of it now. When I bought mine, it was already signed because John Berendt had already autographed all the copies that were for sell in that store. Since he wrote about their bookstore in the book, I’m guessing he had done several book signings there during that time when the book (and then the movie) were so popular. I bet they still sell that book in that store. That was one of the reasons I bought mine there, to get an autographed copy. My copy has an envelope in it, stuffed full of pictures I took on that trip. About why folks sell their books, I guess some folks downsize or maybe they move to assisted living or some place where they no longer have room. I hope I never have to do that, move to a place too small to hold my books. I’ll give up clothes before I’ll give up my books!!! I’m so glad you tucked away those ticket stubs. They will find them, yes they will! 🙂
Susan,
isn’t it funny and interesting letting your imagination run wild and picture someone you don’t know, by their books and “forgotten bookmarks”, only? (I already did, and I believe that woman wasn’t a SAHM, since she had to do a lot of laundry and cleaning on the weekends! 😉 ) But, Susan, let’s imagine she is reading your today’s post, too! Maybe she is a reader/follower of your blog and does recognize her “old” book? How cool is that? Love this post and love your books! Susan, once I bought a “used” book by Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher, at a book flea market. It looked like new, actually it came out its previous owner didn’t really “use” that book too often, since there’s a handwritten sentence in capital letters in the book that says: “IMMANUEL KANT, I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!”
Then, in lower-case letters: “I hate you… because I can’t understand you!”
I loved it! Actually I still love it, because when I was a student myself, I … hated IK, too! Can you imagine why? LOLOLOL
~Hugs to you~
Cecilia
Cecilia, that is hilarious! I would have cracked up! You thought she was a Stay-at-Home-Mom? I was thinking she might work away from home because she had so many chores scheduled for the weekend. But she did have a lot scheduled for during the week, too. Now that would be something if she came across this blog post one day!
Ehmm… Susan,
I believe she was NOT a SAHM, but perhaps she had a huge family? 🙂
Oh, gotcha!
It’s fun trying to put the clues together, isn’t it? 🙂
Oh my, should I start learning English seriously? 😉
No, I just need to learn to read! 🙂
😉
Years ago I was reading a book from the library. It was a bit racy and I wasn’t sure I wanted anyone to see what I was reading. Ifelt much better when I turned the page and found apiece of notepaper with my friend ‘s name imprinted on the top.
Jane, I love it! Too funny! 🙂
Love this post Susan! Love the to-do lists ; Maybe the teddy was one you would wear; the skin care and cellulite was for looking her best; maybe her significant other was returning from military service so she was frantically trying to get herself and the house in order for his long awaited return. It’s intriguing to speculate about these things, isn’t it. I always buy used books and also love when the previous owner leaves notes between or even on the pages. I must find this book now and read it… I usually buy used books from BetterWorldBooks.com; check them out-in 2011 they donated over $9 million to fund literacy programs around the world among other things-check them out on Facebook too (no-I am in no way associated with BBW other then a happy customer). Blessings to all!
Carol, I like your story! Wouldn’t it be fun to take these lists and have folks all write a story describing her life, what they think it would be…then post it on their blog. It would be fun to read all the different interpretations and ideas. I think I’ve seen the collection boxes for BWB in the Kroger shopping center near my home. They are a bright lime green. I wondered what they did with the funds they collected. That’s good to know!
BBW currently has Forgotten Bookmarks-used copy with some writing inside for $5.48 and free shipping, also new ones $17.98 and they donate a book for every book purchased-they are a great organization. That sounds like a great idea for a blog post-I guess that’s why we all follow your blog-you have the greatest ideas!
Aww, thanks, Carol!
So how was the book? I thought about ordering it, too, after watching the video. Would like to hear.
Great! Definitely can recommend it if you love English Country decor. It’s a good size book with beautiful pictures and so much great information about Fowler and his life. There are a good many pictures of him and his friends with well famous movie stars from the past. I was surprised to see those in there.
Hi Susan – You won’t believe this but a couple of days ago I ordered Colefax and Fowler Decorating Book (used of course) from Amazon for $7.99 plus $3.99 shipping. I think the brand new one goes for about $149.00. I LOVE used books too. When I first came to America in the early 70’s I worked in Manhattan and used to go to Brentano’s bookshop all the time. I loved the smell of that shop and the feel of the books. In Brighton, England (where I hail from) there were many lovely old used bookshops and I would spend hours going through the shelves to find just the right one. Many, like the one you are discussing, had lovely old notes scribbled amidst the sometimes yellow with age pages. Once I came upon a book of poems that had been given to a young lady in the 1870’s by her lover or sweetheart and some of the underlined quotes were etched with her drawings of lovers knots and hearts in garlands of flowers. So beautiful!
What a find, Gwen! It sounds so beautiful…and romantic! I have the Colefax and Fowler book, too. I love it, as well. Thank goodness for the used books, could never afford them otherwise. I know exactly what you mean…love those old bookshops, too. I could spend hours and hours there. Thanks for sharing about Brentano’s and the lovely book of poems…loved hearing about them.
I’m exhausted just from reading her lists…I need a glass of wine or a nap or both!!!!!
🙂
Wow! That lady sure was a list maker. I like to do lists but not about cleaning . I would not want that list looking at me. It is such an everyday thing. Happy you found another fun book for decorating. Hope it has a lot of great photo’s. If you would like to read a sweet book, my neighbor’s daughter wrote “Dinner With The Smiley’s”. It was in Sundays Parade Magazine. That was her family on the cover. The whole family appeared on the Today Show . Also, Oprah recommended the book in her magazine.
Susan, I discovered ordering used flowergarden books from Amazon last year. Like you, I look for those used books..almost brand new. I paid under a $ for some of them. When they came, I’m not sure they were read or looked through but a few times..in perfect condition. I found a discontinued book that I’d read so much about on Dave’s Garden called Color Echoss..found it via Amazon from a used book store somewhere in Washington state for under $1..perfect condition.
I’m a list maker but don’t always get too many things crossed off, like the previous owner of your book. I think you’re right about her planning for a party or maybe first time out of town guest came to my mind.
Somebody once told me if you have something on your list one day and you don’t get that accomplished, keep adding it to each day’s until you have mastered it.
Don’t you love those book deals on Amazon! Sounds like you got a great deal. I’ll have to check out that book! That’s what I do, just keep moving it down the list. Sometimes takes a whole week to get it off that list. 🙂
I see I made a typo the Title of that book was Color Echoes, not Color Echoss. Sorry about that!
I too love reading, love books and love the characters. I also love reading books on my Nook but not exclusively. . .love the feel of a real book. Almost all of the books I read are used, I buy them at used book stores, at thrift stores and on Amazon too.
I can’t think of any “forgotten bookmarks” I have found but really want to find and read the “Forgotten Bookmarks” book.
I loved this post!
Susan I would believe the lady is older and that she had a substantial summer garden. Twice she mentions the fact ‘seal beans’ . This usually means to can the beans and make sure they all are sealed properly; otherwise they will spoil.
My mother always had a large garden (Virginia) and canned dozens of green beans with the added tasty ‘shelly’s’ which gave flavor and bulk to the meal. When I would return home after marriage mother would ask what I would like to eat…the answer was always the same. Green Beans, onions, tomatoes, okra and watermelon. I never tired of them. My cousin in North Carolina also has a hugh garden and cans (seals) her beans and when I visit with her the request is good ol’ green beans…thank you very much.
I truly enjoyed this post and feel sure the book on bookmarks will be an absolute delight. I am a lover of books and history, true historical history is my great delight. For relaxing it is home decorating books. After 60 years of marriage I still collect but truly would love to sell a few of my decorating hard cover books so if anyone out there would like to buy any of them they can let me know through you Susan if you don’t mind as your post comes into my mailbox. I also have quite a collection of Traditional Magazines from the times past and some also recent ones…if this be your love.
Old books and magazines are truly old treasures from the joy they bring to others, n’est ce pas?
With gratitude,
I laughed at the way she seemed to procrastinate – the same chores listed over and over as if she knew she had to get them done but was stalling…I buy used books every chance I get, from Amazon, at our local libraries’ $1 sales, and when our newspaper holds a huge annual used book sale. You can get bags and bags of books for about $5 a bag. One used book I bought on Amazon for about $2.50, was a first edition signed by the author. It was an obscure book, and the author was virtually unknown. Still, I thought it was a great bargain!
Hi Susan,
Your post sparks a memory, a few years back when my children were in high school, I was cleaning out my book shelfs and I came across books from when I was in high school. Amongst the pages of the books I found a lot of book marks, the bookmarks were absent and late for class slips from my high school office with my name clearly printed on the top.
Finding the slips brought back happy high school memories, I remember how I was obsessed with reading. I would go to the school library and get lost in books, some times I would find a back corner of the library and spend all day in there reading.
I don’t know why I got away with this, but I remember the last week of school before graduation my principal gave me my first detention slip, and with a gleam in his eye said “I can’t prove anything, but I think we both know you deserve this!”.
I think I turned out ok, so when doing laundry whenever I happened to come across a late for class slip in my sons jeans pockets, I did not jump to conclusions, we calmly discussed the importance of being responsible.
The books with my bookmarks remain in my bookshelf’s, maybe sometime, my children will find them and ……..
I think this is one of my favorite posts, Susan!! We’re kindred spirits indeed… and I will have to check out Forgotten Bookmarks — those little nuggets and peeks into someone else’s life are so tantalizing! It’s even possible to revisit your own… two years ago, my sister and I returned to Newport RI where we used to spend our summers with our grandmother, and upon a visit to the historic library there, found some of the books we’d checked out as children, with our grandmother’s signature on the card in the pocket (remember those??) and a few of our own forgotten bookmarks tucked in! It was nothing short of amazing. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
xo heidi
Oh Heidi, that is the sweetest thing ever! I think I would have been standing there in the library bawling! I get so nostalgic over things like that…totally gets to me! I’m glad they still had the books and hadn’t retired them. I wonder if there’s some way you could asked them to let you and your sister know if they ever do decide to retire them. I know libraries do that every so often because I’ve bought a few old library books on Amazon before. Would be great if you guys could buy the special ones if they ever do have a sale and retire some.
Such a good idea about bookmarks. My bookmarks are usually lists also. Great post. Thanks for sharing.
GREAT POST! I love this story and this awesome list maker. I feel lazy after reading her lists. I wonder if she is a reader of your blog?
A couple of Christmases ago I had asked my sister for Paula Deen’s Savannah Style Book. Being the savvy shopper that she is, she found an autographed copy on Amazon. Well, when it arrived to her home she was stunned that the book was inscribed “To Rachel, love Paula Deen” Evidently, Rachel never picked up her autographed book or Paula Deen signed the wrong name to the book at a book signing, and the seller sold it as an autographed copy! So I have Rachel’s book. It made for a great laugh on Christmas morning.
That is too funny, Mary! I know…I felt lazy, too after reading her list! 🙂
That was super fun! I once used a check that a friend had written to me to pay me back for a book mark in a book I donated to the small local library along with a stack of other books. They took my name an address for their records and a week or so later I got the check back in the mail with a note from the library! I never even realized the check was missing! I loved seeing those weird lists, that one woman was obsessed with window washing! That is never on my to do list! Ha!
Jenna
So nice they spotted it and mailed it back! 🙂
What a fun share!! I guess she finally got those beans sealed:)
🙂
What a fun post! I like how she would move the things she didn’t get done to the next list! I so do that. And start a new one 😉 That was like a little secret peek in someone else’s life. But a harmless one.
Susan – That is too funny! I actually found a grocery list in the pocket of a 1940’s vintage jacket I purchased last week… wanted to post about it but haven’t had the time yet. I’ll be sure to drop you a note when I do.
PS – the grocery list was a hoot… the 70 year-old tissues a little gross! 🙂
Hugs, Holly
You have just played the same game my sister and I play. I do believe you are better at it than we are. I am always curious of why they gave the book up. Sometimes they have declarations of profound love and I wonder if they are not sentimental or was love not reciprocated. Another game we play is “who lives in that house?” It drives some of our family crazy.
Thanks for the fun read.
I’m a frequent lurker just chiming in… Recently at Goodwill I found a diary-type book that a daughter had given to her father to complete. It has different sections and questions to complete. The first, maybe twenty pages were complete and then nothing. You could tell by the printing (lots of pressure used to write each letter of a word) that the writer was giving a lot of thought into writing grammatically correct as he talked about growing up during a depressed time with a poor family, possibly the depression era. It broke my heart that someone would throw this out and I hope it was an accident. (I even have a grocery list or two from my mom that I’ve saved just to remember her handwriting and smile at her misspellings although I knew exactly what she meant!) I’ve had help in narrowing down what might be the author’s son. I’m thinking that even if he doesn’t want it, perhaps his sister might. I need to stop procrastinating and just make the call!
I’ve enjoyed reading your post and all the comments. Now I’m going to be on a search for Forgotten Bookmarks.
P.S. On another note, I also have a beautiful “picture” book at home of items that have been left at the Vietnam Memorial. Looking at a baby bottle or a beer can or a Purple Heart Medal on the ground under a list of names says much more than words ever could….
Today I read my favorite BNOTP post. Thanks Susan.
This reminds me so much of something I would do. I used to scan and print old family notes I found among keepsakes as well as, hymnal pages, newspaper articles, and hand written recipes in the family newsletter I did for 10 years. One I esp. love is a note my grandmother wrote to my mother when Mother was sick. It was just a short note–with a pressed flower inside. Mother was a wife and mother at that time, and the note was as sweet as if Granny were writing to a child. I am so proud to have the original. It’s also interesting to see that somebody else keeps the same kind of “lists” that I do–with some items carried over –and over– until the job is finally done. LOL! (The one I keep pushing down to the bottom now is washing the 8′ wide bow window with 12 panes in it.) I’m gonna try to find a copy of “Forgotten Bookmarks”–I know I will love it, too.
Her lists reminded me so much of mine…..about half the to-do things were crossed off! Love it!
I bought a 10 cent book at a TS and it had a ten dollar bill for a book mark!!
I just read this post and really enjoyed it. I guess I have been fascinated by those little notes tucked between the pages for a long time, but never really gave it much thought. I am an interior designer and find lots of little notes tucked in wallpaper books when they are returned. My favorites are my own. They bring back memories of parties I was planning, Christmas lists, vacation plans. My very favorite is written on a page of a magazine I was reading while traveling with my daughter when she was 3. It is a list of her favorite things. I always return these little notes back into the spot where I found it, to forget and rediscover all over again.