Otter Creek Used Books promotes OUR TOWN

I redecorated the window in support of Middlebury Community Players upcoming production of OUR TOWN. Production dates are Nov 13-16. I’m helping out with publicity so thought it would be a great way to help get the word out as well as the usual posters that the Players produce. I thought that other Main Street stores might be interested but that didn’t go over so well. Guess many will be starting to decorate for the holidays. Not me. I get tired of seeing holiday decorations so far in advance. So for a couple of weeks I’m promoting books from local authors or about Middlebury as part of my OUR TOWN theme. Who knows if anyone will notice since I’m tucked into Main Street but then again maybe they will.

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N! Yep! I’m going to take some *gasp* time for myself! WHAT!?! Yeah. I’m closing the store Monday to Friday November 3rd through the 7th. It is pretty quiet here in town then and I thought it would be such a great time to head south. Not that far south. Mid-south. DC area. When you live in Vermont anything past Albany is south. Going to do some shopping, gawking, relaxing, knitting, and yes, reading. I haven’t taken any real time for myself since May right before I became a full-time used bookstore lady. I’ve been here generally 6-days a week and worked every day through October. And starting Thanksgiving time I’ll be working seven-days again. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining. Not one bit. This is the life for me but I do know my limitations and needs. I need downtime. I love to explore, walk in nature. Need time to rejuvenate. So I have favorite haunts to rediscover, new places to explore and I can’t wait.

Got my itinerary all planned. From Gettysburg to Baltimore. We think we’ll stay out of DC cuz of the election and all that. Who knows what will happen. But we are sure to go hang out in a bar to get the election results. One customer  a couple of weeks ago said that was the thing to do but up on Capital Hill. As intriguing as that sounds - and it does - we probably will head over to Ram’s Head bar. There’s a great antique mall there, too.

I’m bringing my little black book with me. No! I’m happily married. It’s my book of requests and most asked for books. I’ve been keeping a list. But it is always fun to just see what finds me. You know?

I just watered the plants and found myself worry about them. Will they make it through the week without me? REAlly! They’ll probably thrive without me. Going to spray the heck out of them with the bug zapper because a couple of them look like they need it. So I’m off. Well almost. Have a couple of hours left today. I’ll report in when I return. Going to have some fun..

Not quite sure how to post my thoughts but I’m going to try. Sorry in advance. So this guy comes in the store and says to me that I have a lot of ‘dead’ books. My thoughts immediately were “Great! A book snob. Just what I need right now!” We had a short conversation with me mainly listening very politely. Well, he might feel sorry for me and either offer to buy the store or at the least, buy a book. No, he want to sell me his collection. Oh! I get it. No, I said. I don’t have any money right now to buy books. I left my full-time job, blah-blah-blah, winter coming, blah-blah-blah. He wasn’t listening to me so I stopped in mid-sentence and he didn’t even notice. Some people. You know what I mean? Anyways….so that has left me thinking about really defining this used book store. The store was named Otter Creek Used & Rare Books but I knew that I needed to drop the Rare because, frankly, I didn’t notice any rare books in the collection. Better safe than sorry and I’m a stickler for truth in advertising. Be who you are!

So we have ‘dead’ books. Well, ‘dead’ books still sell and since I’ve been here full-time now I see that most people want to read the book not so much collect the book. One thing that always bugged me when we go shopping at used book stores is finding prices sky-high. Why? Because they are a collectors item. So are we in the business to sell or collect? Sell brings in money. Collect collects dust. Maybe we don’t have the reputation for collections. Maybe that isn’t my concern. Maybe my concern is to sell - pay the rent, electricity, insurance, etc. Certainly I don’t have a wage so can’t factor that in. And to have people find the books they want OR the book finds the person who needs it.

I price our books to sell but I’m also not stupid. I have a first edition Ernest Hemingway sitting on my shelf behind me. I’m not going to let that go under what I priced it. And I priced it conservatively than what I noticed other book stores around the country have it offered for. Including those in state. We offer paperbacks and hardcovers to offer books to all types of wants, desires and pocketbooks.

When I bought the store I knew I could only bring the quality of the books up and the standards of the store with it.  Clean it, paint, rearrange and make it reflect my personality. That was the easy stuff. The other stuff is revolving and it’s turning into a community book store. It’s about the experience of coming in and looking to see what is on the shelves. We have a lot of books and they are readable. Oh, they may be ‘dead’ but they still make a good read. It also takes time. And in this business I have all the time in the world. No deadlines. Flatly refuse to work within a deadline. That was my old job. So here it is happiness, no deadlines, politeness, encouragement and more! Where friends come in and we give hugs. Where new friends are being made. You know that old fashion concept - Customer Service. When customers offer me suggestions, advice, or just talk books I definitely listen to what they have to say. It’s wonderful that they share their thoughts with me. I feel honored. Yeah, I really do. And some suggestions are spot on that I can use.

So here’s to used books - dead or alive!

Hmmm, it’s been pretty busy today but right now there is a lull. Quiet time. Weekends have been going very well. I almost don’t mind working every day for the past three weeks and looking forward to another two weeks straight. Today I have on my hiking sneakers and looking forward to a nice hike after work. It’s nice, at least that the store is only open for 4 hours - 11 am-3 pm so I get a little down time. This morning before I came in I sat on our front porch and enjoyed the day. A glorious perfect Vermont foliage day complete with blue sky. The trees are turning nicely this year.

Been selling a lot of books. Most of my general Vermont books are gone and I’m down to only one book of Robert Frost poetry. Yikes! Other holes are westerns, philosophy and sci fi is starting to look a little thin. Got to get busy.

So our book sale this weekend. Well, that was a bust. Even brought in Rusty but he spent the day sitting on one of our benches all day reading. That was, at least, good advertising since he was reading a used paperback. I was downstairs minding the store and I was busy. No sitting down and reading for me. I was on my feet running the cash register.

An hour left. No one has been in for oh, I’d say about an hour. Now it is tough to sit in here knowing how nice it is outside. You know what I think I’ll do? I’m going to close the back doors and go upstairs and sit on one of the benches until someone ventures in. Still counts as working right? Yeah, I’ll be reading. Picked up a copy of Thoreau’s “Walden.” Oh, I just finished “The Lady from Vermont” written about Dorothy Canfield Fisher. Wow! What a woman she was - an inspiration.

Oh! I left that blog up way too long. I didn’t mean to but I have been carried away with re-organizing. I’ve been trying to upgrade the back room area. And trying to get ready for a big sale next weekend. That’s if the weather holds out because I want to take advantage of the sidewalk patio area. I’ve got a couple of old tables I want to bring upstairs and an old wooden ironing board to set up. I want to make the area all cool-like. You know, ‘funky junky’. Oh, and I’ve been thinking of how, where and what type of perennials to plant around the patio for next summer. It is such an incredible space that is just calling out for being all creative-looking. It takes me awhile to get all my thoughts narrowed to down to reflect me and to put into a plan. Hey, can’t rush creativity! Art! Well, at least, not with me.

Very quiet day today so far. It’s a Sunday and it is the first Sunday the store has been opened other than the Christmas season. I thought I would see how it would go for the next couple/three weeks during this foliage season. See if it would be worth my while because I do need one day off a week. I need the income but I don’t want to sacrifice the “me”. You know what I mean? This is a one woman operation. And how can I maintain my ‘creativity’ if I’m overworked? You do understand I’m writing this with tongue-in-cheek, right? My sense of humor at play here.  Well, I’m going to start inputting books into the online inventory. Wish me luck! And watch for the listings on AbeBooks.com. Here I go! Wish me luck!

I almost forgot - Timothy, #3, wrote two more book reviews. I told you! He is a reader. Enjoy his thoughts.

I was robbed today! Someone stole a book from the store sometime this afternoon. It was a book sitting on a yellow cart which holds books related to Middlebury College. How could someone do that? I don’t get it. Though maybe it might show up somewhere else in the store. I would hate to think that it might have been one of about six college students that came in and were drifting around. But I have to say, the store was pretty quiet today so they, in my mind, were the most likely ones. Too bad. I hope they understand karma…what goes around comes around. Oh well.

Yes, my brother, Timothy, is now writing book reviews for the blog. Awesome. To learn more about him you’ll have to check out the page titled “The Word According to #3″. He’s a reader!

My sister-in-law, Sherry, is married to #5, Robert. She was going around last Spring with Flat Stanley taking pictures of him where ever she went. I’ve attached (finally) one of the pictures she took here in the store. Yeah, I know, I have to start taking pictures here. Maybe today because to tell the truth I just can’t get into sorting, pricing and shelving today! Actually all week. Guess I need some down time. And it’s too bad I’ve feeling this way because well, I’ve got a ton of books to process. And there are some great books, too. Also have to get going on my inventory which I’ve started. I’m getting ready to start offering books online at Abebooks.com. I’ve got to start looking out for those winter months and hope that selling online will work out okay. You know I’ve been toying with the idea since we opened. I’ve actually set aside a whole inventory to begin with so there won’t be any mixing with shelved books.

I’d like to get the back room cleaned out, too. That room is stuffed with books. And under the stairs. Okay, I guess I’m talking myself into plough ahead and making some stuff happen. Well, I did some stuff yesterday. I should tell that. I changed out the window display to feature some Vermont books and postcards. Yeah, I’ve got quite a collection of old Vermont postcards. I put the ones featuring foliage upstairs on the memo holder that I purchased at Almost Home years ago. In Bristol. You have to check it out. We always stop there on our way to Burlington for a fluffernutter sandwich. Yeah, I know! They make amazing food, great coffee and we get fluffernutters. I don’t know what to say but try it next time you are in Bristol.  And they are so nice, to boot! No one offers them in Middlebury. Could just go buy a jar but it’s just not the same thing. Anyways! So back to the window display. I no sooner put it up and sold four books from it. Cool! I added more to replace them. I still have to figure out what to put on the window sill. Trying to think of something clever. You know different and ‘funky junky’.

The other thing I’m trying to figure out today - oh, my head hurts! - is what to do with a random bookcase. It’s in the aisle by the back door just hanging out there. It’s starting to bug me but I don’t know what to do with it.

Well, I’m starting to feel inspired now. Guess my cup of tea just kicked in. Better take advantage of it!

It is in the air - fall, foliage, autumn - call it what you want even ‘the leaves are a-changing’. Though it is fairly warm out it is so in the air. Didn’t have much of a summer with all the rain but that’s okay. Here in Vermont we enjoy the Fall the best.  And the smells! Hard for me to put into descriptive words at the moment but there is a distinctive autumn smell - leaves, pumpkins, gourds, mums, apples, pears. You get it, I’m sure. And kicking leaves on the ground. Brings out the kid in us.

Right now we - the town - is in preparation mode. Preparing for ‘leaf peepers’. Vermont’s endearing slang for visitors to our state to take in the colorful trees and views. Vermont has always been number one for foliage colorings thanks to the red maple.  I have been such a mad woman running around the store shelving, filling holes left by books purchased and changing out stock. Oh, and rearranging. All in the hopes that Middlebury will have an outstanding foliage season and I want to be prepared.

Yeah, so I’ve been wanting to sit a spell and enjoy being here but nope! Can’t sit. I want to read but nope! No reading. I want to…yeah, I want to go through all the boxes I have and price them and get them up. Since I’ve been ‘down here’ in the used bookstore I really haven’t taken any time to relish that I’m here. I mean real time of reading, admiring the books. I’ve been, like I said earlier, a mad woman getting the shelves to where I can feel proud to claim ownership of the store. And in-between everything trying to take time to paint, water the plants, sweep, clean, and all the other fun things one does in a used book store.  Hey, great news! I have hired a cleaning person. Bob! An old friend. He’ll be coming in every other week to help me out. Phew! I came to the realization that I can’t do it all. Oh, not like I didn’t know but well, I feel it is important to have a clean store and I admit that I haven’t been doing such a good job with it. I wonder if he waters plants, too. I’ll have to check.

Oh! What fun! I almost forgot! I met someone who has read my blog! Of course, I can’t say where we met because that would blow my secret of where I get some of my books. It was so cool. I know I have a couple of readers! So I toast my cup of water to you both and appreciate your input.

Ok. I’ll be good so back to pricing. I’ve got a stack on either side of my computer and surrounded by boxes piled up around me on the floor. You could say I’ve boxed myself in.  Oh! I almost forgot to include my art in the list of things to do! Art from books. I’ve been creating. See, there is just too much to do. One more thing- getting books on line. I’ve got to bite the bullet on that. Jeez! Nobody told me there would be so much to do! Never boring in a used book store! Good thing! That’s why I love it here!

Enjoy!

A wonderful family popped into the store this morning and spent a good portion of the morning going through the children’s books - old and collectibles. They do not like new books. I’m not sure how old the three boys were. I’m going to guess 8 and 6 years and an eight-month old. They once lived in South Africa. Now they live in lower New England but do quite a bit of traveling. I’m sure the mother told me she home schools. They were all just so clever, so polite, so pleasant. By far one of the most enjoyable families that have come in. I felt sad when they decided to leave the store. They were heading to Shelburne Museum next. While they were here the mom discovered my stash of items I have found in books used as bookmarks. One item she found were some loose Chinese/English flashcards. The boys were able to say what the word on the card was. What an amazing family! Obviously I gave them the cards. And a few other items that she found in the basket. It just feels great to share the discovery and pleasure of bookmarks with someone who appreciates them as I do. Needless to say, I will always remember that family and wish them much success and happiness. Oh, another family came in during the afternoon - I hope they are regulars as I think it’s been their third visit - not that I’m keeping track. The daughter is an avid reader and just so cute! She must be about 8 years old. Very intelligent. Children are so great aren’t they? Well, most are. I won’t go into the one family that came in yesterday who’s mother had no control of her brood. Still finding children’s books tucked into the adult area. How did they sneak them there? We were watching them…and the chair from the children’s corner. How did they manage???

So what have I found tucked into books? Here’s some of the items: crocheted cross, photographs, cards (handmade and store bought, some new some old), store receipts, bookmarks from bookstores, postcards, recipes (like rhubarb & custard pie. Yum!), Saint and prayer cards (praying to finish the book?), hall pass (did they make it back to their class?), jokers from a deck of cards, a map of Capri, house chart to the 1961 House of Representatives, doctor appointment reminder cards (did they remember?), a valentine (”I’ve “booked you” as my Valentine Teacher dear!” from Bradley. How cute!), Triple Blue Stamps, doodles, long expired grocery store coupons, plane tickets, used envelopes, event passes, report cards, book plates, and many pressed flowers including four leaf clovers. A couple of items to note would be a Tex Ritter Amigo Club card, an advertisement card promoting “Wampole’s” Tasteless Preparation of an EXTRACT of COD Liver”, and a Dave Winfield Padres card (value?), and a Defense Stamp Album and so on. Nothing really special but all so interesting don’t you think? I’m going to set up a display with all the stuff soon. Won’t that be fun? Oh yes, if I know the owner I return any valuable items including photos. And I don’t sell them.

Nice to take a break from ’sorting, pricing, shelving’. Ah!

The end of a novel, like the end of a children’s dinner-party, must be made up of sweetmeats and sugar-plums. — Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope.

Looking for a new quote to feature on the upstairs chalk board I happened upon this one. What a great quote! I can certainly relate to it. But then I have a miniature tea set display in the store. And helper elves upstairs so what can I say? I have to confess that I have taken most of the fairy books home. I know! Can’t sell what isn’t here. My intent is to create a window display during the spring months along with fairy houses and wanted to feature the books. That started my collection. I always feel bad when someone comes in looking for any books on fairies. I’m sure my face turns all red and I start apologizing…. Why the confession, I wonder to myself. Oh yeah, rambling.

Today I want to start a new page on the blog with titles of new books that have arrived into the shop. I don’t have our stock inventoried unfortunately. One friend suggested that I at least provide some photos and titles to let readers of this blog know what I have. Especially since I’m not selling on line yet. Which brings up a discussion, do I? I feel I need to in order to supplement the store’s income but doesn’t that defeat the purpose of used book shopping? To me it is all about the hunt. The hunt for a long sought after book and the reward of finally finding it! That is what used book shopping is all about. I do admit that there are times when I’ve felt the need to find a book RIGHT NOW and will go online and look for the cheapest version I can find. Need to take into account shipping costs. Sometimes I find out the cheap issue really isn’t so since the seller has tacked on a hefty shipping charge. I suppose they are taking into account their time and costs to prepare the book for mailing. Then there is USPS versus UPS. Hint, UPS tracks. And UPS Stores are individually owned. Yes, they are individually owned. (Confession time: my husband and I own the local UPS Store here in Middlebury. It is family run and operated as opposed to like-Staple stores. Sometimes ‘chains’ or ‘franchises’ need to be fully investigated especially when there is a ’shop local’ campaign going on. Yes, we pay a royalty but we try to live, too. So double-check and shop local. We do. We live, shop, even were educated here. Enough ranting! Phew!)

Oh yes, this is rambling. Sometime in the near future I’ll post about the store’s ghost. Yep, a ghost. Cool. Every used bookstore needs a real ghost. Later!

So as I price books this afternoon I will feature a few books and you can find them on a separate page. We’ll see how that works. And I’ll try to get some images up, too.

Otter Creek Used Books and Green Mountain Shoe & Apprarel

I love this guy and his friend! One or the other is always peeking out somewhere within the store.

Received an awful lot of cookbooks recently. In fact so many that I have run out of room on the shelves. So I have them in boxes on the floor. Really not the best way to showcase them or care for them but what is a used bookstore lady to do? Egads! At least I’ve cleared the aisle and the corner chair that sits nearby. And more Sci Fi has come in including a complete set of L.Ron Hubbard’s series. Also have in paperback many from the Dr. Who series. A number of older farm-related books have come in with more that need to be unboxed. And many more New Age books that I’ve run out of room to shelf.

So that’s what I’ve been up to these days - sorting, pricing, shelving, sorting, pricing shelving. Each and every day for the past month or so. I’m expecting more boxes in Friday so I’m working feverishly to clean out the many boxes I still have in the aisles. I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining because I’m not. It is just the way of a used book store. I’ve been working hard to change the inventory around as well as upgrade to better quality offerings. And to keep the store eclectic - covering many interests and prices - paperback to hardcover. I feel that I’m starting to feel better about what is on the shelves. Also in between everything I’ve been trying to rearrange, paint and add more of a creative touch to the store. I am having so much fun doing it all, too. I know I probably sound like a broken record, as my father would say, but how can I not be happy here? Ok there are a few days where I get overwhelmed with the boxes all over the store but then I remember “one book at a time” and I calm down. I haven’t cleaned as much as I know I should - I do occasionally sweep the floor. Really, I do. And the plants have been noted as attacking me or at the very least shouted not nice things to me for a drink of water! Sorry! Even working on this blog! I had desires to write at least each week but haven’t kept up with it. So I’m trying to get myself into a routine even though I don’t like being in one. For the sake of turning around this store and make it proud for myself and the community it serves I can do it! Yes, siree, I can do it! I am woman! (Rusty is rolling his eyes!)

Rusty hung the screen door in the front though it still doesn’t close/open properly yet. He’ll fix it. He also added the “used books” letters up over the back door and I hung up an open flag to replace the stars and stripes flag I had left out one night and someone took. I just hope they have it hanging properly beside their door.

Well, according to my computer clock - forgot my watch today and I still don’t have a clock in the store because I can’t find one that seems right - it’s time for me to open. Oh yes, and water the plants. Even though I was suppose to do that yesterday - Monday - but I started in ’sorting, pricing, shelving’ and forgot. Hey, there is always the next day like Tuesday! I hear you! I’m coming with your water. Geez!