Old Books and New Comments

Several years ago I did a post about Princess Mary's Gift Book and today I got a new comment on it. It always amazes me when I get a comment on a really old post, but I guess folks are still interested in Princess Mary's Gift book, or maybe the Cottingley Fairy Hoax.

Shed Chic

I read a blog called Shedworking nearly every day. Not long ago I entered a contest there and SURPRISE! I won. The prize was a new book published in England called Shed Chic. It arrived Saturday just in time for Mother's Day. What a perfect gift!

I opened it that night and spent two hours pouring over the beautiful photos of amazing sheds.

I thought of Lucy at Attic24 when I saw this colorful photo of the gypsy caravan. See, it's got bright crocheted throws like she makes.

I like this idea too. They have simply hung what looks like a sheet from the roof as a sun shade. And little table with its flowery cloth is so homey.

Or if you are so inclined, you could make a fantastic Wendy House for a lucky child. Isn't this tiny timbered cottage just too cute?

The book is full gorgeous ideas for turning a shed into a more usable space. Apparently sheds aren't just for men anymore. I am suddenly inspired to get out there and finish my shed. Yes, that is this summer's project: FINISH THE SHED!

Thank you Shedworking for the wonderful Mother's Day gift.

Home Library Party

I learned to love books at an early age. My dad took this photo of me looking at a Child Craft book when I was only about two. Being the third child I was one of the "students" when my oldest sister was the "teacher". I tried to be a good student; memorizing books before I could actually read them. My whole family likes to tell how I could recite The Night Before Christmas when I was about three years old. I distinctly remember the beautiful poems and stories in those Child Craft books and I can still recite several of those too. When my oldest sister had children the Child Craft books moved to her house, then when I had children they came to my house, and now they are at my niece's house. I hope they continue to be passed along to whomever has young children.

I remember as a young child going to the library with my mother (who was also an avid reader). We kids would go to the children's section and each check out a few books. It was like a whole new world in there. Books provided a perfect way to see the world, have an adventure, or learn something new. I preferred books with maps, beautiful illustrations, and adventurous stories.

I should come as no surprise that I have lots of books. But of course, they're not all my books. The Lord of the Manor and both our children also love books. When they were little we read to them every night. I think we enjoyed it as much as they did. We don't read to them at night anymore, but I often find them reading when I call "lights out".

My children love bookstores too, and we often visit them in our travels. In 2003 we happened to be in London on June 21st when the latest Harry Potter book came out. We took the Tube to Waterstones to get our books and our kids spent the next two weeks with their noses stuck in them.

Let's have a look at our library now. You enter through these pocket doors. In the winter we shut the doors and run the little fireplace to keep it warm.

Here is our library. It was one of the first rooms we finished when we remodeled the house in 2001. The Lord of the Manor built all the bookcases and the sea chest that we use as a sofa table. All the furnishings are old; the leather furniture and rug were purchased in 1990, and the wing back chairs in 1975.

Here is the little wet bar just to the right of the door.

Then there is a comfy chair and ottoman in this corner. And some old books from the Lord of the Manor's family. And the stereo equipment and drawers full of CDs, DVDs, and videos.

Past the fireplace on the left are lots of sailing books from the 1980s when we lived aboard a 35' sailboat that we cruised to Mexico. Some of them still smell of mildew. We also keep the sextant and hand bearing compass there.
On the left wall is the window looking out onto the back garden. I put the window mistreatment back up for the winter. It's merely a piece of silk about 20" wide and 12' long with a bead fringe on the ends. I simply drape and wrap it around the pole and decorate it with whatever is handy. Currently my "S P O O K Y" letters and a crow are there.

The last wall has the largest bookcase with over 500 books. No wonder it took soooo long to clean that wall! It holds lots of gardening, art, architecture, adventure, racing, flying, cooking, science, animal, and bird books.

As I sat exhausted from all the cleaning last Sunday evening I started counting the books. After counting 670 in this room, 71 in the living room, 37 in the kitchen, and estimating 50 in each kid's room, I realized that, yes, we do really love books.

Cleaning the Library

Jeannie the Dreamer is having a Home Library Party on Friday, so over the weekend I worked on preparing my library for the party. It took hours to vacuum every book in my library, wipe all the shelves, dust the knick-knacks, and organize and tidy everything. But I couldn't let Oprah show me up, could I?

Her own library is on the cover of her magazine. In fact, that's what attracted me to it in the first place. Look at that beautiful room. I love the sofa and the dog is darn cute too. I don't think my family could do a white sofa, but look at that fringe! Gorgeous! I think we could handle that on a bookbinding red jacquard sofa.

Fall seems like a good time to snuggle up and read, so if you want to get inspired to create your own library, join me Friday September 26th for the Home Library Party sponsored by Jeannie the Dreamer. And be sure to visit all the other participants too.

Twenty-Six Letters

I was listening to NPR in the car the other day. Terry Gross was interviewing Richard Price the novelist and screenwriter. She asked him how he likes his new venture working with other writers for HBO's The Wire. He said he enjoyed it because he had other people to talk with now. Then he said, "You know, writing is so isolating. I mean, basically you sit there for 30 years rearranging 26 letters of the alphabet by yourself." I almost stopped the car to write that down. It was so simple yet profound.

Because that's what writers do, isn't it? They simply take the same old 26 letters and rearrange them again and again and again. The same 26 letters that make up a comforting child's nursery rhyme can also create a story of suspense and terror. Then, arranged a different way, those very same letters can create a world of uplifting joy and happiness.

I think writing today is an unappreciated art. Anyone can type out a story on a computer and using spellcheck create a technically correct piece. But it takes a real artist to weave those 26 letters into a story that sets a mood, paints a picture, fleshes out a character, and truly captures your attention.

So I say, "Thank You" to all those writers who've spent years in isolation arranging and rearranging those 26 letters into all the wonderful tales that I've enjoyed. You are truly artists.

p.s. I know I promised more needle felting today, but it's not quite ready, so we'll do that tomorrow.

Book Meme

I recently read Mary's Book Meme post and I consider myself tagged, so here goes:

The Rules:

1. Pick up the nearest boook of at least 123 pages.

2. Open the book to page 123.

3. Find the fifth sentence.

4. Post the next three sentences.

5. Tag five people.

So the nearest book was The Tassels Book, but it didn't have any words, just this gorgeous photo.

so I moved over to the bedside table where I found Pride and Prejudice.

I've had this book for years and always meant to read it, and I'm finally doing it! So, on page 123, the sixth sentence is:

" Mr. Collins, meanwhile, was meditating in solitude on what had passed. He thought too well of himself to comprehend on what motive his cousin could refuse him; and though his pride was hurt, he suffered in no other way. His regard for her was quite imaginary; and the possibility of her deserving her mother's reproach prevented his feeling any regret."

As you all know, I love books and have lots of books and wanted to select a different book, so you wouldn't know that I'm just now reading Pride and Prejudice for the first time, but it's true. So here I am, finally completing my High School English Literature assignment here Amongst The Oaks.

And if you like the idea of this meme, consider yourself tagged.

Princess Mary's Gift Book

When I picked up this old book to share with you, I had no idea I'd be learning about fairies, but indeed that's what happened.

The book is called Princess Mary's Gift Book and was sponsored by Princess Mary in 1917 to raise money for WWI.

I enjoyed the charming stories and beautiful illustrations....

Isn't this one precious?

And this one looks so sweet.

Then I googled Princess Mary's Gift Book to read about it's history, and I found that two creative girls apparently used illustrations from this very book as inspiration for the great Cottingley Fairy Hoax. It was quite a sensation in Yorkshire and later throughout England. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (who, incidentally contributed a story to this book) was consulted by folks trying to disprove the hoax.

And there on page 104 I found some of the fairies that seemed to have inspired the girls. They probably had this book in their nursery, read it many times and wanted to believe in fairies, so they made some "paper dolls" and things got a little carried away. I'm sure it was all in good fun. In fact it sounds like something I may have done when I was a little girl. And at one time or another I'm sure we all believed in fairies and gnomes and trolls and ghosts. Maybe some of us still do. Do you?

Comfy Corner

Another Corner of my Home

Isn't it funny that people have their favorite chairs and everyone knows not to sit there? Well, this is my favorite chair. Not that I'm that thrilled with the chair itself, but this is my spot. We've had these chairs FOREVER. I think I bought them at Ethan Allen in ... like ... 1978. Wow, that was a little scary when I actually figured out the year. So they are 29 years old! And they LOOK it too. The fabric is faded and holey on the arms. Maybe it's time for a change.

Anyway, here's where I sit in the evenings after dinner. I'm usually reading while the rest of the family is watching the tube. The table holds the newest magazines and catalogs, my reading lamp and glasses, a seasonal display, and my wine glass or tea cup. It's usually cluttered and messy looking, but I tidied it up for you. Sometimes it will hold a half-done crossword puzzle or bills and paperwork. Sometimes it also holds a project I'm working on or an empty ice cream bowl or candy wrapper. Shame, shame. It isn't always pretty, but it sure is comfortable, this little corner Amongst The Oaks.

P.S. Finally a foggy day so I can change my title block to what winter is supposed to look like.