The Shed Notebook: Hey Marie Kondo: Bookshelves Full of Books Can Spark Joy!

 When I read Marie Kondo's book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up right after it came out, I did what any thoughtful reader does. I took the information that mattered to me and used it. Kondo's method emerged in popularity again recently when her series began its run on Netflix. Her philosphy is this: if something sparks joy in your life, consider keeping it. If not, get rid of it. I haven't watched the series yet, but I have seen lots of photos on social media of people motivated to organize shelves, closets, and junk drawers.
One area of decluttering that hit a nerve with book collectors was her section on discarding books. Many book lovers went into panic mode online about paring down their book collections to thirty books. "I love my books. How can I get rid of them?"  "A library of books brings me comfort". "Why thirty books?"

part of my writing resource collection

I reread her section on getting rid of books. She said she would only keep thirty books. Besides, if Marie Kondo suggests you get rid of books, it is a suggestion. Keep those books you book collectors, The Spark Joy police is not coming to your house any time soon. I have more than forty cookbooks alone and I have pared down that collection. The ones I kept spark joy, If The Boxcar Children brings you joy by remembering your first grade teacher reading it to you, keep it! The photo at the top of the post are all books I saved from my mother's home library. Each of them brought her joy. Will I reread them?  Maybe not, but I love having them close.

part of my poetry collection

Now I didn't take all my books and put them in a pile like she suggested. Mine are spread all over the house and in the She Shed.  I did revisit my book shelves and found books that no longer sparked joy.  I had books I had read, but didn't need to keep. Also there were books that were outdated, worn out, or damaged, Did I throw all of them away? No. Did I tear out the pages that had parts I liked? No. I gave them away or donated them.

part of my cookbook collection

I am not a minimalist. I like books to surround me. I have books I use for reference, cookbooks I read and use all the time, a collection of poetry books I reread often, and books that have sentimental value. I also have the pile of books I plan to read soon or someday. Today I did revisit the shelves knowing I am going to the thrift store tomorrow. I found some titles that weren't sparking that Marie Kondo joy anymore. Another reader can enjoy them.

Her philosophy makes sense, but each person is unique in how they declutter. What sparks joy with one person may not with another. I do recommend her book and hope to watch the series, but I am still keeping my books. Every single one of them.

Do you have books you want to donate? This list has some good ideas. https://www.moneycrashers.com/where-donate-used-books/

The Shed Notebook: Ten Reasons Why I Love January

January is an unpopular month for many people.  It is that letdown month after the holiday season. It is a long month that often brings on gray, dark days. Taxes need to be done soon,weather may slow down travel.  I am different. I enjoy January.

Ten Reasons Why I Love January
10: Snow usually covers all mess in the backyard left by dog toys, dog droppings, and dog bones.
9.   Snow usually covers all the weeds I didn't get cleaned up in the fall.
8.   I celebrate my birthday!
7.   We also celebrate Mom's birthday and work on keeping her memory alive,
6.   As tax documents begin to arrive in the mail, you only have to think about taxes.
5.   College basketball is in full swing. Go Zags!

4.    Winter photo walks produce beautiful pictures.
3.   It is a good time to show off handmade mittens, hats, and scarfs.
2.   It is a perfect month to just stay home and catch up on movies, reading, and writing.
1.   It is winter decor month which means my snowman collection fills the house with cheer.     

The Shed Notebook: The Trees of Winter

"Know that somewhere deep within the tree of winter 

there is still the life that produced 

last spring's beautiful leaves." 

Madame Jeanne Guyon

I drove around twice last week to take winter pictures. Because of my lack of mobility I didn't get out of the rig, so I tried to capture the images of winter from the driver's seat. A theme of trees emerged as I drove around and snapped pictures. Enjoy some images from a winter drive in Kellogg.

The Shed Notebook: Mary Oliver and Wild Geese

As many continue to mourn the passing of poet Mary Oliver, I have been reminded over and over through social media the poems she penned that had resonated with me. I reviewed my blog posts and reread eight posts I have written that included Mary Oliver poems. I revisted this poem today and decided to post it again. 

It is one example of how she could arrange words in a way that made perfect sense to the reader right away. The message wasn't hidden. There wasn't complicated language. She simply reminded us that the world does offer itself to each of us, it calls to us like the wild geese.

Wild Geese 

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting--
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

-Mary Oliver