Rainy Days And Mondays

Don't always get me down. How's that for a clever title for a post. Oh brother :p There's something that I just love about the rumble of thunder on a summer afternoon. It's the most relaxing sound in the world. Especially when I can enjoy it at home underneath the patio with a book. I love the rain. I always have. I'm one of those strange people who love thunderstorms. I know there's plenty of you out there like me. I just find the rain to be very relaxing and the power of nature just never ceases to amaze me. I also have a strange fascination with hurricane season which is now upon us. I certainly don't love hurricane's after what I've been through with Katrina, but I'm fascinated by them. When there's one out there, I'm constantly glued to the weather channel. I know for a fact I'm not alone in this one...Jroy, represent!

So anyway, that's exactly what I'm doing this afternoon...enjoying a book with the sound of thunder in the background. I'm STILL reading A Game of Thrones though it's going much quicker now and I'm reading about 100 pages a day. It's much more gripping towards the end. I've never taken this long to read a book! I started on May 18th and took about a 15 day break from it. Then I'd only read 2 or 3 chapters at a time because it just wasn't catching me. Now it's got me and I'm really enjoying it. Hopefully it keeps me in it's clutches. I really hope to finish these 2 challenges this month. I think I'll manage...I hope!

One other quick thing. I wanted to point everyone in the direction of Endicott's site. There are 3 new Terri Windling prints available and they are beautiful! I think I'm going to be picking up 2 of them for myself and possibly a third as a Christmas gift. Very early shopping! The first one that I want is "From the Shadows." It's a beautiful print and features lyrics from Tori Amos' song "Girl" from my favorite album of hers, Little Earthquakes. The other print is just stunning and is entitled "Coyote Woman." The money goes to support Endicott and two children's charities and all prints are signed by Terri Windling.

I've Found My Dream Home

I'm sure many of you have seen this already on Neil Gaiman's blog, but for those who haven't, writer, artist, editor, and founder of The Endicott Studio for Mythic Arts, Terri Windling, has put her house in England up for sale. I'm absolutely blown away by this house. It's a 16th century cottage and looks like it is taken from a fairy tale. The kitchen features murals painted by Brian Froud, Charles Vess, and Terri herself among other artists. It's built of granite with a slate and thatch roof, has a beautiful cobbled garden, a granite fireplace, wood burning oven, and everything about it is just magical. What I wouldn't give for a house like this. It's being sold for 380,000 pounds which actually isn't bad at all Maybe I'll hit the lottery. Carl did a recent Friday Favorites on Terri, and her art is truly amazing.

In other news, the weather is incredibly beautiful tonight. A cool front came by after the intense rain and left us feeling like October again: Cloudy, in the 60's, breezy and no humidity at all. Perfect weather to cozy up with a book. And that is what I shall do.