CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN Day 4

 A CHRISTMAS WISH

May you enjoy a cup of steaming cider and a good book

BOOKS AND LIBRARIES

I have always believed that every house should have a library. If not a separate room, then at least a space with a chair and a place to set a cup of tea. This is my favorite bookcase, and it has moved with me four times since I fell in love with it in 2006. We bought it in an antique shop and it is rumored to have come from a library of a state university. I love it because of its' size and the different heights of the shelves. The top is quite narrow, only about three and one half inches wide, and has holes to hold wires or dowels for periodicals. I usually just put larger books there. The next shelf is wider, but it is angled so the books slant. And then there are two wider divided  shelves at the bottom. I usually have seasonal books on the top shelves.

I've lived in a couple of places with tiny rooms and tall ceilings, so I always seem to decorate up. I was lucky to live in a house with a separate room with built-in bookshelves for our library. We also had built in shelves in all the bedrooms. When we downsized, I think we had over 2000 books. I donated a lot of them. Our next house had 15 bookcases. I think I was down to 10 when I rented. (That is the photo above). And then when I was a fraternity house mom, I only had room for two, and most of my books and furniture were in storage for four years. Then when John and I got married, I was able to move my books back in and have a library again. Our library room didn't have built-ins but did have several book cases. That house had a total of twelve. Now we are here and have approximately ten plus cupboards and niches, and book racks. These are estimates. I will probably do a recount when I am all snug in my midwinter bed. (I do love the "Night Before Christmas" books with charming illustrations)

Here are a few of my Christmas books. I do like children's books so I always seem to be drawn to them.  And Christmas decorating and crafting books are popular too. Oh, and vintage books. I guess you get the idea and now everyone knows my secret vice.