A Weekend Trip

I've mentioned our love for the local bookstore plenty of times in the past. The Maine Coast Bookshop is a great little store with a terrific selection of books, and for a nice bonus there's a cafe attached. The little one and I usually head in there every day or so, mostly because it's the only place she just loves to be. We can spend a good two hours in there and I still have to chase her around to get her coat on before we leave. Yesterday we all took a trip in to get a hot chocolate and do some book browsing.

One of the best things about this great local store is the people who work there. Above is Lisa, one of Elisabeth's most favorite people. They have a special bond and Lisa is always the recipient of many hugs and kisses.

I really believe in supporting local businesses. Sure, I can browse Amazon and get plenty of books at a discounted price, but where's the fun? There's no real experience in doing that. I can't physically flip through the pages, read excerpts, or ask the staff what they thought of it. There's nobody to recommend a good book or a smiling face at the checkout. Who exactly am I supporting when I buy a book off of Amazon anyway?

So now I do only my browsing on Amazon or other blogs, then special order everything at this bookstore. Plus, there's the fact that the little one thinks nothing is better than running around in a store full of books all day. She browses, rearranges, interacts with the lovely staff, greets customers coming in from the cold, runs to the cafe to give Lisa a hug, plays with her favorite toys, and generally just has more fun than anywhere else. We've actually stopped going to playgroups because she likes the bookstore more.

Stephen enjoyed his mocha, chili, and a good book while I sipped my hot chocolate trying to keep an eye on the little one. After a good two hours of chasing her around a large store, I am usually in need of a rather filling lunch. She has certainly perfected the art of running.

One of her favorite things to do is push this cart around the store. She's usually pretty good about not running into anybody, but mama tends to help a bit turning the corners.

Another favorite would be the Folkmanis Puppets. I have a feeling we'll end up with one in the near future.

And, of course, there's the street watching where she points to every big truck going by and likes to wave to the people on foot.

After we said our goodbyes we went to Renys for a balloon. This provided about five minutes of entertainment in the car before she was out like a light.

A perfect Sunday morning, if you ask me.

Comments

[Natasha S]

So glad to see so many people supporting small stores.I will buy of amazon occasionally but I too try to shop at our town store.I would rather pay an extra buck or two and keep the community alive.
When is your next shop update?Ollie is getting snug in his onesie!!

[Bettybetty]

Nothing beats the downtown shipping experience. I would take it any day over going to the mall. Trouble is there aren't many main drags left.

[Bobbi]

i love reny's balloons and your baby! that is an adorable picture of lisa with her.

[Heather W]

oh you are so blessed to have a great bookstore like that so close to you! My boys would LOVE something like that! =)

[Melissa]

Oh so sweet! Hurray for buying local, too. I love Elisabeth's outfit. Don't little ones make every experience...a new experience? =)

[rhea]

awwww, sooo cute. and i love those birds on your last post. Can't wait to get my hands on some decals of my own!!!

[ru]

our family has several folkmanis puppets in our menagerie (the white bunny, blanco; the giraffe, geralidine; the monkey, marcel; the squirrel finger-puppet, corn nut; and the raccoon finger-puppet, liam).

they are a lovely puppet investment - signal loves his friends. and they are the ones that librarians swear by for story-time use!

[Dawn]

That does sound like a perfect morning. It looks like a wonderful store. I've always wanted to open a store like that- all the bookstores in my town are chain stores. Your daughter is learning so many valuable lessons from this experience you're giving to her.

[Grace]

super cute. sounds like an awful lot of fun, erin!

and i am so happy to see what use you're getting out of that little hat!!

[Ram in the Thicket]

My 10 year old son has been collecting Folkmanis puppets since he was little. I don't know how many he has, they're all in a big bin in our schoolroom. But if I had to guess I'd say 25ish. They're habit forming ;o)

[Nicole]

Sounds wonderful! I agree with you about supporting local business! It is funny hearing of Renys, I have family in Maine and always hear about how great the prices are there! :)

[Stacey]

Sounds just like our New Years Day, small bookstores are the way to go, besides they usually have staff that read and can suggest stuff.

[Carrie]

Yay local! I'm so glad that you're choosing to go that route, Erin. Amazon and some of the other "biggies" are getting so much of the blogger love out there. My little one loves the library and the book section of our local thrift store. She always asks if she can "borrow" books, even if we're in a real store. . . Ha!
And, here's how you know I'm a regular "bluebird baby" reader: Today, my little one came into the room, looked at the screen and asked, "How's Elizabeth today?" She's only 3, and thinks that we can "go visit" Elizabeth anytime. . .except we're on the whole other side of the country and only "know" you through your blog. That's a hard one to explain!

[amanda]

What a beautiful bookstore! How nice that Elisabeth feels at home among books. And to have friends behind the counter must make her feel so special.
We have a couple of Folkmanis puppets from my mom and they get played with all the time. They are so beautifully made.

[Ravenhill]

I get homesick every time I read your blog! I love seeing the book store and Reny's baloon! Damarscotta is one of my favorite little villages in Maine. It is so unchanged and pretty.

We have tickets now to come to Maine in April! Yippee! Should you know anyone who would like to do a house swap - Norway / Maine then let me know!