Reading Room Weekly IX
Where Time, Art, and Stories Come Together
Easter came and went quickly this year. I used Jell-O to color some eggs, which gave them a soft pink tint, and we had a meal with Mom.
Most of my week was spent working. I did make sure to carve out a bit of breathing room with a walk in the park, which helped reset things as I expected.
The real standout, though, was when we took a trip to Pennyjane Art Co. The space is warm and alive with creativity. You can genuinely feel the passion in the artwork on display.
The shop is run by children’s illustrator and collage artist Jane Dippold and her husband, which really adds to its charm and authenticity. We had an opportunity to talk with Jane while we were there, and it was a memorable experience.
Taking it all in up close was inspiring, and it left me feeling recharged and a little more motivated than when I walked in. I was thrilled to find some new drawing pencils and a small gift for my mom.
The wall of art outside Pennyjane Art Co. is a colorful, eye-catching display. Designed like an outdoor gallery, it features a mix of playful and vibrant artwork that reflects unique styles.
A Little Free Art Gallery adds to the charm, offering a small, house-shaped space filled with tiny trinkets and art pieces for visitors to take or share. Together, they invite people to stop, explore, and experience art in a fun, welcoming, and accessible way.
I made it home just in time to see the Artemis II crew splash down in the Pacific Ocean—welcome home!
As night fell, we joined a crowd of people for the rescheduled glow-in-the-dark Easter egg hunt.
At home, the signs of spring are becoming more noticeable with each passing day. My husband mowed the yard for the first time this year—a sure sign that the season is changing. The forsythia is in bloom, and the lilacs are just beginning to bud, hinting at the color and fragrance still to come.
As many of you probably know, I’ve always had a deep love for birding. There’s something about watching birds that feels grounding and meaningful to me. One of my favorite things about this time of year happens in the early morning. Around 5:00 a.m., the air fills with birdsong, creating a peaceful and welcoming start to the day. It’s a simple pleasure, but one that never fails to lift my spirits and remind me of the beauty of the season.
With that in mind, I wanted to share a few highlights of songbirds (Robin) that have really stayed with me.
The Reading Life
1/The Art
I spend a lot of time looking at illustrations, and here’s a tender illustration by Robert Ridgway. He captures the quiet beauty of a robin, its warm red breast and soft yellow beak glowing with life. Ridgway, was an American ornithologist with a deep devotion to the natural world, dedicated his life to the study of birds. Mentored by Smithsonian leader Spencer F. Baird, he became the institution’s first full-time curator of birds, beginning his work there in 1880 and continuing until his passing in 1929. Through both science and art, Ridgway brought birds closer to us—his drawings and paintings reflecting not just accuracy, but a genuine love and reverence for these delicate creatures.
2/The Music
Stretching along the River Cam between Cambridge and Grantchester village, Grantchester Meadows is a 50-acre sweep of protected water meadows and woodland. The landscape has a gentle, timeless beauty that inspired Pink Floyd’s 1969 track “Grantchester Meadows” written by Roger Waters to reflect the area’s calmness. It features an acoustic atmosphere, enriched by a clear natural soundscape of birds—most notably the steady, recognizable song of a robin.
3/ The Literature
Robins, in particular, have always stood out. In literature, they’re often seen as symbols of hope, renewal, and quiet guidance—little reminders that even after difficult seasons, there’s always a sense of return and new beginnings. That feeling is beautifully captured in the poem “Robin” by Louisa May Alcott, where the bird becomes a gentle presence tied to comfort, resilience, and the changing of seasons.
To the First Robin by Louisa May Alcott
Welcome, welcome, little stranger,
Fear no harm, and fear no danger;
We are glad to see you here,
For you sing, “Sweet Spring is near.”
Now the white snow melts away;
Now the flowers blossom gay:
Come, dear bird, and build your nest,
For we love our robin best.
Shelf Aesthetics & Bookish Finds
1/ Two Vintage Resin Bird Bookends
Set of 2 Vintage Resin Bird Bookends, Decorative Bookends for Shelves, Bookends for Heavy Books, Anti-Slip. These Bronze Birds have that warm, antique feel that makes a shelf look more “established” or intellectual—like something you’d see in an old library.
2/A Bird Lover’s Sticker Book
Birds often represent freedom, hope, and joy—especially colorful songbirds. People use stickers to decorate journals, laptops, water bottles, etc.—songbirds give a soft, peaceful, or artsy vibe.
Woodland birds and desert birds. Birds that flock along the shore and birds that flit among meadows and ponds. Plus unique feathers, colorful eggs, intricate nests, owls, cardinals, and more. An immersive celebration of birds, this collection contains more than 675 charming stickers, each lovingly hand-painted within breathtaking landscapes and each perfect for decorating a nature journal, a birder's diary, or the pages of a favorite birding guide.
Journaling Topics or Book Club–Ready Discussion Questions
If you could change one aspect of the plot, what would it be and how would it alter the story?
Wishing you a peaceful day and a week filled with gentle moments!
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