Errands Downtown and a New Stack of Books

I had a couple of client projects this week that needed some fresh inspiration, so I decided to head out for new books instead of just searching online again. The local branch always has a decent selection on interior design and architecture, even if half the titles end up being the same ones they had last time. I grabbed my canvas tote from the hook by the door, the one with the frayed strap I keep meaning to fix, and checked that my library card was still tucked in the side pocket before heading out.

I took the longer way through Glenwood Bend because traffic on the main road looked backed up from the construction that started last month. It added a few extra minutes but I did not mind. The side streets were lined with those big old maples that were just starting to drop their leaves, and the air smelled faintly like someone had been burning yard waste a few blocks over. There is a little bakery right by the library entrance that I have been meaning to try, and I figured I could grab something small on the way back to the car. I even rolled the windows down a crack so I could hear the neighborhood sounds better.

The library itself was quiet for a Wednesday afternoon. The automatic doors let out that soft whoosh of conditioned air, and the faint scent of old paper and carpet cleaner always hits me the moment I step inside. I picked up two books on mid-century layouts that looked useful—one had a nice spread on walnut cabinetry that caught my eye right away—and one on color theory that I had seen recommended somewhere. The spine on the color one was already a little creased, like someone else had been flipping through it recently. I also checked out a novel Lissa had mentioned during our last phone call, though I am not sure when I will actually get to it. Work has been steady but the deadlines keep stacking up.

On the way out I stopped at the bakery and picked up two cloudberry scones. The woman behind the counter mentioned they had just come out of the oven, so the paper bag felt warm against my palm when she handed it over. They were still warm, which made the drive home nicer. Ren was already back from his shift when I got in, so we split one while I showed him the books. He pointed out a layout in one of them that looked a lot like the kitchen we helped his sister redesign two years ago, and we both laughed about how the pendant lights in the photo were almost identical to the ones we had hunted down at that salvage yard.

Later in the evening I started flipping through the color theory book at the kitchen table. I ended up pulling a few fabric swatches from my work bag to compare against some of the examples. Nothing major, just testing a couple of combinations for a bedroom refresh one of my clients has been asking about. The late light coming through the window made the colors shift a little, and I ended up turning on the small lamp so I could see the differences better. The scones held up pretty well even after sitting out for a couple hours.

I also took a quick walk around the block before it got dark. The construction on the main road had cleared out by then, so the usual route felt less noisy. I passed the corner where they usually set up the booths for the Founders Festival and noticed they had already started marking spots with tape on the sidewalk. It always seems to come around faster than I expect. A neighbor’s dog barked from behind a fence as I went by, and I could hear kids playing some game that involved a lot of running and yelling in one of the yards.

When I got back Ren was making pasta, so I helped chop some vegetables while we talked through our plans for the weekend. Nothing too exciting, just groceries and maybe stopping by the hardware store for a new drawer pull that has been loose for weeks. The garlic hit the pan right as I finished dicing the onion, and the smell filled the whole kitchen. I put the rest of the second scone in the fridge for tomorrow morning.

The books are stacked on the side table now, ready for when I have a longer stretch of time to sit with them. One of the mid-century titles had a section on built-in storage that I think might work for a project I have been putting off. I will probably start on that tomorrow after I finish the fabric samples for the client.