When Nick and I go on vacation, we usually take long walks, browse in bookstores, buy a treat, get a pint or a glass of vino and take it easy. Isn't it nice to feel like you're "off the clock" for a while? My life seems to be on the go all the time, with piano teaching being mostly evenings, and church and associated public duties on weekends.
But occasionally things slow down, and it makes me very grateful. Since the closing of Fusion Cafe in July, we've been spending more time at home, and missing the chance for random social encounters, not to mention the live music.
So, I've started to feel a bit housebound this past week and last night Nick and I bundled up and hiked down to the new used bookstore downtown. We were there for about an hour - the selection is good. We mostly read old stuff and Nick is into psychology and science books. I got my first novel by Oscar Wilde, some Irving Layton poems and a book by Austin Clarke.
Then we went a little farther up the town hill over to the Freshmarket grocery store and got some blueberry pastries to go with today's breakfast. The air was crisp, the Christmas lights were twinkly, and it was all very charming. Came home and curled up with little nip of scotch and read our books.
I'd just like to point out that currently the Woodstock Farm Market is open six days a week, with local food for sale. And that we have a knitting and art supply store on the corner of Connell and Main, which is right next to a natural food store....not too far from the take-out sushi joint on the other side of the street.
For a little town, we do pretty well. Next week I plan to get over to the new "Celtic Fox" coffee shop in Kerry O'Toole's gallery. So, before you spend all your bucks driving downriver or "over across," take an hour to wander around downtown and see what you can find.
