Storing Up Memories

I can't even remember when my mother got this beautiful set of barrister bookcases....at some point in my childhood they became a fixture in our home.  Many years ago, they came to my place....and now house a treasure trove of memories collected throughout the years.

It is unusual to find such a complete set of these bookcases.  Trust me, I "junk" enough to know that I am sitting on a gold mine with this pristine piece, complete with original wavy glass fronts, a topper and a base!  However, I never intend to let go of it....

The shelves are crammed full of memories from my childhood, like these Cherry Ames books my mother bought for me and which brought me many hours of reading enjoyment....

Family photos from the time I was only a few days old....my grandparents posing in front of their Christmas tree....my sister and I sitting atop a trashcan filled with leaves as my parents worked in the backyard.....

 

Ed has a large collection of Larry McMurtry books and together we have begun collecting first editions of some of our favorite books...."Gone With the Wind", "To Kill a Mockingbird", "Giant", several Steinbeck novels and my complete collection of Jan Karon's Mitford novels.....

A little owl perched on a pencil holder that my dad made as a child sits on a set of children's encyclopedias my sister and I poured over when we were little.....

A small brass plaque with a Mother's Day poem Sam found at a garage sale when he was in grade school and brought home for me....and the Willow Tree figurine of "Mother and Son" which Ben bought for me the first Christmas he had a job and his own money to spend....truly special pieces.

Part of the beauty of storing these items behind glass in that, in addition to being beautifully displayed, they are protected from getting knocked around and the inevitable dust that settles here in West Texas!

There are so many items that are priceless to me on these shelves. I wish I could pull out each item individually and share the wonderful memories behind it with you!  There is not a single piece that does not have a story to go along with it.  But, space and time do not allow it in a single blog post.

So, I will leave you with this final image of the barrister bookcase, sitting in the corner of our living room....right where we can enjoy it on a daily basis and share it with Family.

I am linking up with Cha Cha over at Sit Relax and Read for Sentimental Sunday.  Hop over for a visit and see how others are using items with sentimental value to make their homes warm and inviting.

I am also linking up with French Country Cottage's "Feathered Nest Friday", another terrific place to find inspiration and make new friends. 

~Jane~