I Do Collect One Item

This a follow up to a post I started 2 weeks ago.

If asked if I collected anything I would probably say no, but that wouldn't be exactly true. I do collect books. I have no other collections in the house, but I have several different book collections. I should know better. Collections only mean something to the person who collects them and when you pass on someone else has to deal with them. Those collections are never worth anything. Trust me I know because I have had to deal with them.

My mother-in-law was a collector of things such as Depression glass, Wedgewood plates, Cabbage Patch dolls, etc. I had to try and find homes for all of it. The Depression glass was the only thing that was easy. If I waited a decade maybe the plates would have been easier. I still have a set of pink ones in the cabinets now if anyone is interested:) I actually took the Cabbage Patch dolls to Goodwill with their little official certificates and everything!

Anyway, I am going to take you on a stroll through my book collections which I do enjoy looking at, so I am hoping my kids will forgive me one day for leaving them so many books with which to contend.

This one is an obvious to anyone who know me locally. Space books.

Many are signed.

I have more of these than I will even show you or you would be sure I have gone off the deep end. They are in lots of places in the house. If I put them altogether I might scare myself. I have been fascinated since I was a little girl and this is the one collection that others have enabled me with. Students, friends, etc.

Get a load of the price on it. $.25

In fact this one was located in a library by a former teacher that I worked with. She called me one day and said, "Hey, I found a book that was being discarded I thought you might like." She was correct. I loved it.

This is one of my favorite children's author for science books. Had no idea he was that old.

I have lots of picture books that I used for teaching with and then there are those that I just like to look through. I have shared only a small amount of  these with you...Seriously!



About 15 years ago, I set out on a mission to gather up my old elementary textbooks. I was sure of the titles because Mother was such a great documenter of life with the camera and having attended such a small rural school our annuals (yearbooks) had elementary school pictures too.

I started with the Dick and Jane readers. I had the 1963 edition.
I loved everything about them. I have written about them before here. What is not to love about these pictures?!

And poems...

That collection then turned to the science and social studies books. I was very successful with the science books. I remember them like they were yesterday.

The one of the far right is from my teaching years. I loved teaching 4th grade and this was my favorite book I taught science from.

Y'all when I was doing the science coach job my last three years I used these books to write up some third grade lessons that went over wonderfully. I was in need of something to transition the third graders into these kits that we bought. I took these books and wrote up two missions that the teachers and children loved to help them move into the big kid stuff. They were invaluable.

I wasn't successful with the social studies books. I did get a couple, but they are not the ones I had. I can remember them so well and KNOW that if I ever see them I recognize them. They are probably in a landfill somewhere. Pooh! My third grade one was my absolute favorite. IT was about a family that moved from the east to the west. It followed them on their journey and we learned about geography and cultures along the way. It was like a story.

If you are thinking I am nuts by now, it is ok. Everyone has their obsessions. Mine is books:)

I also have stacks of history books all over the house. I have passed that love onto my son. We are partial to World War II, but not exclusively. There are little groupings like this everywhere in the house.

Of course, any good Auburn alum would have some groupings of Auburn books along with many many coffee table books that can't be displayed at the moment due to a little doggie named Gus. He likes books too...just not to read.

I collect old books as well. I have many old sewing, gardening, and decorating books. I took some of those to Auburn to enjoy when I am there. Of course, I have mentioned before I simply love love love decorating books.

I have lots of books I had in my classroom. These are some of my favorite read alouds. They bring back so many good memories.

With a few of my childhood books mixed in.

And then more space books...

I told you!

And more picture books.

This is one of my favorites!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I also have a big collection of books from my childhood and from my own children's childhood.  I saw someone else's collection of Little Golden books the other day and I thought I had a lot, but no I really don't.

My own kids were fans of The Berenstain Bears. They are in the basket behind the Little Golden Books.

Paul Allen was obsessed with The Messy Room.

We had to read every label on every box EVERY time we read it. He wanted to be this neat, but there was no chance.

I love old magazines. There are decorating, space, and Seventeens in there. I really really wish I had kept my old Southern Livings because I would enjoy looking through them now. Mother had a huge stack of 80's and 90's ones in her utility room that she finally got rid of. If I had known how much I would miss those days of Southern Living I would have held onto them.

One more item to share... cookbooks.
I have a short closet in my kitchen hallway that I store them in along with my vitamins, medicine cabinet, and paper plates, cups, etc. I won't share with you how many I have because you might think I need to start a food blog. That would be a real big joke around here!!!! I only like to bake and each cookbook probably has a recipe or two that I love. I probably need to compile a cookbook for the kids with those recipes.

That one with the watermelon spine is one of my favorites.

I do love the set of Southern Living cookbooks I have kept. The 1982 and 1983 are my absolute FAVES!!!!

If you are still with me, I will stop this stroll, but I could go on...I promise. I will leave you with one last picture. I had this nursery rhyme book since I was a little girl in the early 1960's. 

I hope you enjoyed my little collection tour. Do you collect anything?

I will be back next with some stitching.
Sandy