The kismet just keeps on coming (or how we got an awesome book table)

Dear Reader -  We are in that season of magic, and we had our own little magic moment this past week.

Linda was watching the shop while I was moving the sorting room with Ingrid and Julie and Nathalie (lovingly dubbed by Minivan Mafia sisters). We wrapped up our move round about 1:30, and after some errands I headed home to grab lunch.

Linda called. She said, "What're you doing?" Excitedly ignoring my reply that I was eating lunch, she continued, "You need to come over to the shop. There's something you need to see."

I put my lunch on the bookcase, picked up the dog, and over we went.

Linda greeted us with a Vanna White-ish gesture, drawing our eyes to the couch and this:

Yes! A book table! What every bookshop needs (and its beat up in such a way as to make it perfect here in a used setting).

So you're wondering how it got here, right? Well, that's the magic part, dear Reader.

A nice lady that Linda'd never seen before came in to get a card, and when she was checking out she said, "You know, I have something out in my car that you might like to have." She told Linda that the table was slated for a future at Goodwill. Linda took one look and happily accepted the woman's kind offer.

It's perfect for the space: perfect footprint, perfect height, perfect colors. The detailing throughout is awesome, like the indentation of the "pages" along the sides:

We're in love with it - and we're so grateful. Thank you, Nice Lady, for giving us your wonderful table and for buying a card.

Happy Christmas, indeed!  - Jen

P.S. We've all been digging the She and Him Christmas album this season. Here they are with Conan, having a little holiday fun with one of the classics:

A couple of adventurers venture to Lewes!

Dear Reader -  I got a call a year or so ago from a gentleman who's stopped into the shop and was smitten by it. He followed up to let me know this and to also let me know about his card line: The Adventures of Mirabelle.

The man was Michael Muller, former owner of Details gallery in Reho. A few Christmases back, Michael received a gift: Mirabelle. Mirabelle is a little Boston Terrier who has changed the course of Michael's life - utterly:

Six years later, Michael and Mirabelle's card line is all over the country and they have published three children's board books with Workman Publishing. The books came out this fall and Mirabelle has been touring ever since to do promotions and signings.

We're smitten with both Michael and Mirabelle. Michael is among the nicest of human beings you'd ever wanna meet, and Mirabelle is a canine who's ready for adventure - always. Our favorite Mirabelle cards are the ones that feature her in Lewes, like this one at the farmers market:

Or this one over at the Zwaanendael Museum:

Or this one where she "skitches" a ride on the Ferry:

Boston people, dog people, Lewes people, good-humored people - it doesn't matter, they all love Mirabelle. So it's no surprise that people have been loving her new board books, too:

They're adorable - perfect for the preschool and early reader sets. And what child wouldn't be charmed to have their book(s) signed by a dog?!

Mirabelle will be over in Reho on Saturday morning from 10:00 to Noon at Proud Bookstore, near Arena's. After some lunch and a nap, she'll be here in Lewes from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.:

So stop by and say hello, shake Mirabelle's paw, and consider a special gift for a child or Boston-lover in your life!

Cheers!  - Jen

P.S. I'm thinking that Mirabelle's the kind of girl who'd dig some funk, a la George Clinton and Parliament - "Why must I feel like that, must I chase the cat? Nothin' but the dog in me . . . ":

P.S.S. And don't forget that we're happy to have a book or two signed for you if you can't make it on Saturday!  - J

Gratitude

Dear Reader -  'Tis the season, and we have much to be thankful for here at little biblion:

1. We are continually stunned and humbled by how engaged and loyal our biblion guests are. Whether you're year-round Lewes folks, weekenders, friends from wider-Delmarva, or once-a-year visitors here, you have been unflaggingly supportive of our shop, and we know that we couldn't be doing this without you. I mean, heck, what other shoppers'd be the kind of people who send thank you notes for their time with us?!
2. We love (love, love) the people who fill our shop with wonderful things - those who bring their beloved books in to trade, those gifted local authors and artists who are "rare finds," indeed, and those who bring us fun and functional gifts and cards from all over America. It's because of you that we can offer our guests playful and thoughtful shopping experiences.
3. Our family here is truly top rate - Ingrid, Linda, Grace, and Zac provide small town hospitality and sophisticated insights and expertise to our guests. Plus, they're each super-cool in their own way.
4. We love Ted and Joe, who provide us with a lovely, well-maintained building to live in - and who're among those faithful guests mentioned above.
5. We're also grateful for all those who help to get the word out about what we're doing here.
6. And we love Lewes.

Thank you, dear Reader, for being part of the biblion experience!

Gratefully, Jen and Miss C (and Nellie, too!)

P.S. My friend Anne introduced me to Louie Schwartzberg's work. I'm thinkin' that his film, Gratitude, is perfect for today:

A little helpin' of small-town-life-is-just-too-darn-sweet

Dear Reader -  Two or three weeks back the sweetest-little-Lewes-ish thing happened: Carolyn and Matt, two of our regulars, stopped in to ask if they could have some of their engagement photos taken here, saying biblion was just one of their favorite places. Of course I said, "yes," and much clicking of shutters and giggling ensued:

Their photographer, Kate Callahan, was just as charming as they are. My poor iPhone photo pales in comparison to the spread that she took of the blissful couple which she popped up on her blog here [late-breaking editorial addition: gotta say that the combo platter of looking at the pics while listening to Landon Pigg's song - below - is about as perfect as it gets]. Aren't they fantastic? Both the photos and Matt & Carolyn?!

Go love!  - Jenny

P.S. They're looking for a really cool, old, big dictionary (but not too big like the massive Websters that I have up on my upper shelf) to use at their wedding. If you have one that you think might work for the cause, please let me know - thanks!

P.S.S. We gotta have a love song, too - we're not a coffee shop, but we're close enough for horseshoes or engagement photo shoots, and, heck, Landon Pigg's lovely voice sets the perfect tone:

Best Quote of the Day: June 30

Dear Reader -  Yesterday's quote of the day came from a young couple who were hanging with me during siesta-time, as we listened to Bombay Bicycle Club's _Flaws_ (the perfect siesta-time album):

"This is probably the coolest store I've ever been in," she said.

"Yeah," he replied.

Contentedly  - Jen