Liz taught me the phrase cascade of chores when one task leads to another, and another...and eventually, maybe, some of them get completed. A few weeks back, I said I would lend a book to someone. I put it on the table - then left the house without it. I have apologised to her now, because neither Bob nor I have seen it since July. "I must sort the bedroom bookcase" I declared "It is really overloaded" But it was too hot for housework
It has been baking in our bedroom "The fan is not very efficient" said Bob. I pointed out it was rather old, dusty, and tired [like me] We have had it 20+ years. He looked at it, and declared the the back of the grill looked rusty. But when dismantled, the brown
rust proved to be a thick layer of
dust. Bob cleaned it all up, it works much better. Back to the book sort.
Technically the top 2 shelves are all Terry Pratchett, the bottom 3 are craft and cookbooks, and in between, "current reading" with ½ a shelf designated "borrowed" [from library or friends]
I cleared 5 shelves onto the top of the drawers for sorting. And soon realised it was a dusty task. I grabbed an old washing up brush and brushed down each book in turn [just like the NT conservators in Blickling Hall library]
Oh so very dusty! And there were far more books which were not craft or cookery than I'd realised. Some have come from the lounge "fiction" selection and need to go back there. Some need to leave the house forever. And that missing book is still missing [sorry, Heather!]
This is still a WIP, as I have realised there are cookbooks in the study and kitchen. But only 5 in the borrowed pile. I am embarrassed to have found three CS books bought in Essex in March which I'd forgotten about. I'm giving books a good shake, dislodging all sort of random cards and clippings. Some to be recycled, others will be kept as bookmarks because they bring back happy memories. Like these from 1992!
I know some of you are former librarians, so I'm sure you are more diligent than I am!
Your system is very organised. Every so often (every few decades) I try and sort ours, but there are always the books that are too big or small, or defy categorisation, or the shelf is too short... so we let thesleeping books lie in their dusty beds...
ReplyDeleteA couple of Bobs woodworking books are currently nestling alongside the biggest cookbooks
DeleteThis former librarian can't remember when last she dusted her books! But it's forty years since I worked as a librarian. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
ReplyDeleteAnd now you're a Rev you have even more books!
DeleteNot often enough! You have stirred me into action, I have been meaning to clean and sort our three Billy bookcases, I must get on with that task. We have too many books some definitely need to go to the CS. Regards Sue H
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DeleteNearly every job on the smallholding led to many more, usually waiting for Col to get home from work or a weekend for him to do something.
ReplyDeleteOne task leads to another and another and ...
DeleteI love finding cards/letters etc inside the pages of cherished books, double happiness.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
❤️❤️
DeleteI have postcards like that too!
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DeleteWe've had to buy another bookcase (2nd hand), to go in big spare bedroom for OH's books, nearly all SF. I have taken over the bigger bookcase in Iris's small bedroom and have double rows of books. I did sort out the kitchen/diner bookcase and got rid of lots of cookbooks. Enjoy your dusting. Xx
ReplyDeleteBooks do have a habit of multiplying 📖📙📘📚
DeleteWell done Angela for sorting out your books. At one of our former manses we had silverfish and they enjoyed chewing the books, so I do tidy and 'weed' our books regularly. Now in the process of downsizing so books are being rehomed. Eleven and half months to go!
ReplyDeleteSilverfish can do a lot of damage. Bob passed on a lot of books to Moorlands College 【and has got online versions of his Bible Commentaries] Less than a year...it will go fast, believe me!
Deletenot often enough..........that's all I am admitting too!!
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DeleteIt has been a while since any deep cleaning of book shelves but I do run a fluffy duster over them when doing the rest of the room. We tend to keep our number of books from expanding too much, and donate from time to time, except those that are particular favourites.
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DeleteI like the phrase, "cascade of chores"; that's exactly what happens when I go to do just about anything around the house! One thing leads to another and to another.
ReplyDeleteI last dusted my books in June. I can say that with certainty because that's when I emptied out the bookcase in the living room in preparation for it being painted. Then, I dusted the books before putting them back (after decluttering some) and I dusted the books in the family room as I rearranged those shelves. Who knows when I'll dust them again?
You did a really good job on that living room bookcase , Bless 👍
DeleteOh I hate it when I get caught in a cascade of chores when all I really wanted to do was the very first one, I am getting better at avoiding cascades just recently though.
ReplyDeleteI tend to organise my books by author, I have one shelf of assorted WWII books, the rest quite random. Cookbooks mostly in the kitchen, and books to be read scattered all over the place. They get dusted occasionally when I'm on the phone to my son, who can talk for England, so I grab my feather duster and work my way around.
I try to keep fiction in the lounge, and craftbooks and cookbooks on their own shelves in the bedroom. But I don't always succeed. Terry Pratchett stuff is mostly on two shelves high above my reach. And all the Bible/church/hymnbook stuff is in the Study
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