Happy Little Things: Notebooks

May 18, 2012


I confess. In addition to being addicted to books, I also have a small notebook fetish. From the purse-sized notebook I carry for jotting things down on the run, to the multiple spiral or bound journals that congregate on my shelves, I own a number of notebooks that I’m actively using as well as ones that I haven’t yet cracked open. And even though I have plenty already, I cannot help but be drawn to displays of notebooks and journals wherever I am. I always have to pick them up to see how they feel and what kind of paper is inside. I try not to overbuy, but really, is it so bad to have separate notebooks for morning pages, a personal journal, books read, writing ideas and all things wordy? And maybe one or two ready and waiting for when I fill up one of the ones in use? (And then there are the sketchbooks. I have at least five of those with varying types of paper: sketch, watercolor, multi-media. But that's another story.) 

I guess it’s a fairly harmless and mostly inexpensive obsession—and it makes me happy. I’m all for noticing, savoring and encouraging the happy little things in life, and my notebook mania does makes me happy. I love every stage: browsing notebook choices, gloating over a shelf of blank notebooks, starting a new notebook and putting a period at the end of the last sentence of one I've filled up.  Then I can start the whole process over again!

What little thing has made you happy this week?

“Notebooks are like attics, a place for treasures which sometimes turn out to be junk, but take you anyway to another time and place.” —Cynthia MacDonald

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11 comments

  1. I feel the same way you do about books and notebooks. I love trees, but I admit to a paper fetish.

    The thing that made me happy this week is finding a cat and then finding its owner. Happiness and a feeling of relief because I really can't have yet another cat right now.

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  2. I feel the same way you do about books and notebooks. I love trees, but I admit to a paper fetish.

    The thing that made me happy this week is finding a cat and then finding its owner. Happiness and a feeling of relief because I really can't have yet another cat right now.

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  3. Joan--I totally understand the paper fetish--I'm still reading paper books rather than using an e-reader. Guess I'll have to make contributions to the Arbor Day Foundation for the rest of my life!

    That is so awesome that you were able to reunite a cat and its owner--you're relieved, and I'm sure the owner is thrilled!

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  4. LOVE the quote about notebooks and attics!

    You know I have a notebook/sketchbook fetish as well and I can't say with any serious remorse that I'm sorry that I do. I think more than the paper itself, I'm addicted to the possibilities that are represented in those pages....

    Happy this week? Receiving a card from a friend in France! There's something so warm about snail mail, especially stuff from another country! (and it's more paper! LOL!)

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  5. Laure--Yes, those blank pages do call out to be filled with our imaginings, don't they?

    How wonderful to get snail mail at all (that's not bills or junk) and to have it come from overseas is doubly fun.

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  6. You've got some beautiful notebooks - especially the one with the horse on it (no surprise there). I like paper too - I bet a lot of your readers do. And I was happy today to get one of my quilts back from the quilter and get a good start on binding it today.

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  7. Cheryl--The horse one was a Christmas gift from my husband--so thoughtful!

    Are you planning to share your quilt on your blog when you get it finished?

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  8. Hi Kathy ... I enjoy little notebooks too, but I don't have very many of them. I carry a small one in my purse, but for shopping lists I like using index cards.

    I am usually grateful and can give you tons of stuff that makes me happy, but this week has been a hard one for me. I guess that buying the fabric for blankets made me happy, but then I found my sewing machine needs help.

    Oh well. Hope you are having a fun weekend!

    Kathy M.

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  9. Yes I guess I'll share my quilt when I get it finished. All I have left now is to make a label, a hanging sleeve, and finish the binding.

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  10. Kathy--I'm sorry you're having such a tough week. I know it must be a rough one because you're always so positive on your blog...I hope things take a turn for the better soon.

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  11. Cheryl--Great! I look forward to seeing it. Sounds like you just have a few finishing touches left.

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