My books are my friends

Daily Gratitude

I'm shining today because I'm grateful for:

• God's correction. King David said he was glad for His correction, and I used to not understand that. Yet, as I get older I realize that God's correction keeps us true, honest, and loving to others. It's way better than His discipline!
• Fall and winter merging. This morning the fall leaves are covered with a light layer of white powder. It's beautiful.
• When I think of the thousands of people on the east coast that are displaced, cold, and frustrated, I am all the more thankful for my warm home and cozy bed. Truly, I am blessed!

I have a few books

Well, maybe more than a few.

While I've been a voracious reader since I was a child, it wasn't until I was a young adult that I began to appreciate the beauty of books published around the turn of the last century. Since then I have gathered many lovely volumes.

I love these beautiful stories and the works of art that cover them. Most are bound in decorated fabric, some are actually tooled leather. Not all of them are in perfect shape, but I marvel at how well preserved they are for being well over 100 years old.

Here's a beautiful edition of the Chautauqua Girls at Home that was given to a young woman named Lou Taylor. Her aunt Avery gave it to her as a Christmas gift in 1897. The cloth cover is worn just a bit, otherwise it's in wonderful condition.

Isn't this one a hoot? Wanted- A Matchmaker. A holiday story about wanting a husband! This edition features a beautiful Armstrong design on the boards and every page is illustrated with a lavish boarder. 

Chattie B. Cahill inscribed this lovely edition of Uncle Tom's Cabin in February of 1900. I have 20 or so books that were Ms. Cahill's. She had wonderful taste in her reading material. Unfortunately, I've been unable to locate information about this specific printing.

Many years back, my father and I were roaming the hills of the Palouse when we can upon an estate sale at an old farm. Dad found several treasures. And, so did I - this collection of Tom Swift adventure books.

Finding a complete collection that's in good condition is like hitting the mother lode! This set of Master Pieces of Fiction was a great score from my friend's salvage shop. The set was published in 1904 and included everyone from Charles Dickens to Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe, Rudyard Kipling, Boccaccio, George Eliot, Emile Zola, and more. I wonder is she realized what she had!

My step-mom gave me a box full of these funny, yet delightful pulp fiction books from the 1930's, 40's and 50's. They are pretty tame compared to the romance novels of today, but in their time they were quite racy. I especially like the one titled "Professional Lover."

Books are tucked around in nooks and crannies in my home. Here, a random collection of beautifully dressed friends, I mean books, sits on the mantle of my fireplace. I just love the colors!

Some of my book-friends are ornate and beautiful. Others are hearty and well-worn. All are a delight in some way. There are days that I will deliberately visit my books. I grab a cup of coffee and walk from room to room to remember them. It's a pleasurable exercise. I touch the covers, running my fingers over the embossed designs. The wonderful smell that comes from opening the pages often compels me to stop to read a page or two. Not every book has in inscription. When I find one, it's like connecting with the previous owner. I like to think of them lovingly penning their name, noting the town where they lived, and "stamping" the date that they came to possess the volume. 

I wonder if Cleopatra felt that way about the papyrus scrolls in the Royal Library of Alexandra. I do believe Caesar's accidental burning of the world's largest and most significant library would have been a real deal breaker for me!  And, surely Queen Elizabeth treasured the many volumes of classical works and Psalms she had translated and ornately bound. As well as her copies of the works of Shakespeare, Spenser, Sir Philip Sidney, and Christopher Marlowe.

It would be a tedious undertaking to look at all of my old books today. I just wanted to talk about a few of them, because they bring me such joy. And, I wanted you to know that...

My books are my friends. 

(P.S. See my Pinterest board where I pin loads of cool books - Books are my friends)

I just want to be queen

Daily Gratitude

I'm shining today because I'm grateful for:

• Little things, like the pretty orange color of the candle on my coffee table, the sound of wind chimes on the deck, the three deer that ran across the road this morning, the hum of my refrigerator. All are little gifts.
• I got a check for doing something I really enjoyed. Doing good work and being paid for it is nice!
• Problem solving. God gave me a good, sound mind. He intended that I used it to figure stuff out. When He needs a problem solved, He gives it an extra boost, aka Divine Inspiration.  

Queen Bee Shelley
First grade many years ago....

The Making of a Little Queen

When I was in first grade the class put on a play for our parents. It was a story about a bee hive and the things that happen there. The details are pretty fuzzy, except that I clearly remember I was cast as the queen bee. Was I ever proud! In my memory, I was draped in a royal cape and wore an elegant crown. I even had a golden scepter and sat on a throne. I believed that I looked a lot like this...

No actor has ever played their part more earnestly. I took my role seriously, being the very best queen I could. Miss Bagwell, my teacher, praised me for my excellent work and I'm pretty sure that all the other kids said I did a great job. At least, that's what I remember...

It made an impression.

That's when I decided I liked the queen gig. Once the queen bug bit, I started learning about other queens. Ester of the Bible, Cleopatra, and Good Queen Bess (aka Elizabeth) were important to me because they were strong and intelligent women. They were worthy role models.

As a young girl I realized that being a queen is no easy task. It entails much more than wearing regal clothes and jewels, going to important ceremonies, and having people wait on you hand and foot. There's a queendom to manage, don't you know. And, with that are many responsibilities such as running a country, leading armies, being the model of decorum for all of your subjects, and granting royal favors on worthy folk.

This idea of being a queen didn't come out of self-importance or arrogance. I just related to the role. As an adult I believe every woman can be a queen. Now, don't you be nay-saying me here. Every woman can and should be the ruler of her own life. If things go beyond that, great. However, first and foremost is the call to reign with dignity and authority in the place where were are planted - in our homes, the places we work, and in our social context.

Sometime soon, I plan to spend time here exploring the attributes of the queens that have influenced me. You'll see why I think its an amazing thing to live into our regal potential. Until then, take a moment to check out this great website: Queen of Your Own Life. These ladies assert that being a queen is an attitude, a way of life and a call to action for grown up women everywhere. They extend an invitation to join them in celebrating life. You have absolutely nothing to lose and only great friendship, thrilling adventure, true love and deep satisfaction to gain when you declare yourself Queen of Your Own Life.

I hope you join me, as well as the ladies of Queen of Your Own Life, when I say:

I just want to be queen!