In Miniature: How Small Things Illuminate the World, by Simon Garfield is a enjoyable romp through the world of the small. Some are scale models of the original that while smaller, are still rather large (think the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas), others are impossibly small (a recreation of the Last Supper in the eye of a needle). In between are ships, and amazingly intricate houses (many without dolls) that include working lights and running water. Miniature books feature as well, as they get smaller and smaller and yet are still readable. And don't forget about a circus of fleas, that's here, too. Also mentioned were the 'nutshell studies of death' from the book about Frances Gleesner Lee who created the small murder scenes. (see blog entry of June 24, 2014). And, of course, trains! An interesting read.

Jan Burak Schwert and her husband (and eventually, son) are skilled and experienced travelers ... only not in the traditional way. No tours or big city destinations for them, they like the back roads, the smaller inns or B&B's, and wandering the streets of small towns. Along the way they've had fun and made lots of friends. I thoroughly enjoyed Geezers' Guide to the Galaxy: a Lifetime of Travel Encounters and hope there are lots of other folks who travel this way, too.

Reading Hermit With Dog