The Great Book Rodeo is over

I am pleased to announce that the great “bookcase and painting adventure of 2008” is completed.  Over the past five months, we had built-in bookcases put in my office (first pic) and the library (second pic), and the second floor finally received the coat of paint it’s wanted since we moved in 12 years ago.  Planning started in February, work began in mid-May and wrapped up early June.  Mr. G valiantly moved 100 boxes of books and ten boxes of office stuff from the second floor to the basement and back.  About 100 books went off to the local library, with another 100 books “culled for consideration.”  I can report the project was 100% accident-free (I banged up my back moving a box of books I’d shipped from the International Spy Museum, an unrelated incident).

The project went remarkably smoothly, considering that, at various times, the bedroom, bathroom, and my office (and therefore, the dining room, which was the office pro tem or “Colonial One”) were affected.  Since it’s been Kate da Cat’s understanding for the past 18 years that unless Ma is at her desk by 8:00am, something’s wrong, our mutual schedule was upset for a month.  But all to a good cause:  I have a really nice, clean workspace (after twenty years of working in basements and corners, this means a lot), our guest room/ library is now tidy and comfortable, and the upstairs got the painting it desperately needed. 

We added shelves to the office closet, where Kate has a niche for her basket, perfect for supervising and editorial control. 

We need to sort out new curtains, but apart from that…we’re good.  Life is back to normal and better.

 

One regret:  although the bookshelves go to the ceiling, the house is too small for a built in rail and ladder system.  While I love whizzing past bookcases on a ladder as much as the next girl (and have discreetly abused that privilege in some very posh research libraries), it wouldn’t work chez nous.  However, I found a nifty little two-step ladder that fits our space (above), reaches the top shelves, and doubles as a seat.  Nice form and balance. 

Happiness is having your house back.  Heaven is an office built to spec.  Nirvana is no longer having to sing the alphabet song repeatedly while trying to sort out your fiction by author. 

(N.B.  My books would be between Italo Calvino and Dorothy Cannell, if I kept them in the library.  Drop me a line, and I’ll tell you where your books are.)