More than books ...

In the room that once was our youngest

daughter's tiny bedroom,

I have my little 'library'.

I have a varied assortment of books

and authors, including

Jane Austen, Janette Oke, Phillips/Pella,

George MacDonald (one of my very favorites!)

James Harriot, C.S. Lewis (another favorite),

many gardening books, soap-making books,

The Left Behind Series,

devotionals and Bible Studies,

old books from my Grandmother which

include some old history books telling of

many things you won't hear about these days

in public schools! There are sewing books,

quilting books, classic novels, and The

Gentleman Farmer even has a shelf of his own

with manly titles such as Tales of the Canadian North,

Big Game, Big Country, and several more hunting books,

old west books, collectible Scouting books,

and a series of woodworking books.

But I have more than books on these shelves.

I love the outdoors and the creatures, critters and plants

that you find there. I have made several little vignettes

on the shelves with treasures I have gathered as

they are found.

~ The Bookshelf~

From the forest floor ~
Blacktail deer shed antlers,
bracket or shelf fungus that grow on trees,
a Monkey puzzle tree cone...


more of the fungal growths, elk teeth, a deer hoof
and two porcupine quills.

A little lucite case containing moss and a Swallowtail Butterfly
and a moth, another moth on the book (left)
and an interesting seed pod (right).

Another shelf holds a few odds and ends ~
a Moon Rock from Idaho,
a bit of sheep wool, gathered from the fence along
our lane, left by the neighbors sheep,
and two whole shed snake skins ~ rare to find
an entire skin! Even the eyes shed!


~*~


Dragonfly on lichen from apple trees
and
small paper wasp nest
join Jane Austen.

Poor little Bumblebees that have perished with

tummies full of Lavender nectar

and a June bug or Japanese beetle

on yet another type of moss.

Little birds eggs found on the ground

now share a 'nest' of flannel in a

vintage jar,

and another wasp nest.

A robin's nest and egg, another butterfly wing,

a pretty feather and some dried rose buds.

From our beach is a crab and a barnacle,

two shells from a little journey GF and I

took last year,

and a lovely smooth rock from Lake Ontario near

our youngest daughter's home in New York.
~*~

I enjoy looking at all these treasures that have been collected

from little adventures here on our little farm

or from travels to places beyond. They remind me

of the people I love and places I love to visit.

And like the books they share the shelves with,

they are fascinating to look at and full of information

about their particular subject if you look closely

and take the time to study them.

Their intricacies tell the story of their wonderful

Creator!

~*~

"For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things have been created by Him and for Him."

Colossians 2:16