Shelf Life

My blog is officially ancient... I'm re-blogging an old post. Don't worry it's better this time... Since the first post my camera has been upgraded, the shelves have been painted and the shoes have multiplied (like bunnies... it's natural).
One of the things I love most about my old, pretty, little house, are the built in bookshelves. Instant charm...like dimples on a baby. Sometimes I wish I was one of those people who could live in a pristine house and dutifully dust the one vase that adorned the room... but, it's just not going to happen. I'm a bit of a clutter fiend and these shelves that cover the one wall of our living room give me a place to keep some of the clutter at bay and are a great way to display some interesting bits of our lives. I say, our lives, but it's mostly my stuff on display... Matt did have one of those Maple Leafs Stanley Cups that came in a 24 of beer on the shelf but at some point that mysteriously disappeared.

Some items of interest...(my labelling begs Kendi's forgiveness for being so sub-par...)

1. A shelf full of artifacts from my family's years of living in Korea. My Oma (Papa's side) later sent me these paper cut-outs, which were framed. They are so pretty and remind me of a woman who's tenacity and style I have always admired.
2. A vintage umbrella that my parents gave me. They give the coolest stuff...
3. An antique hide skinner (?). A few years back, we went as a family to a local antique show. We had a contest within the family to see who could find the most interesting thing for under $10. We even asked a antique vendor to judge us... Matt found this old tool for $15 and told the lady our story of why he needed to buy it for $10. She let him have it because our dorky family competition tugged at herl heart strings... I thought he was on the way to an easy victory but for some reason the judge picked my martini swirler (?) that had a naked bum on top of it and said 'bottoms up'... I think Matt deserved that victory. I should have shared the chocolates I won.
4. Our wedding invitation. No envelope, no reply cards, no inter-twined doves... of all things related to our wedding, this was my favourite part. It was just 'us'. Matt's hockey skates and my fancy shoes on a postcard...
5. My other Oma's old clutch and Bible. I feel really lucky to have these things.
6. A wedding photograph of my Oma and Opa (Mama's side). They were together forever but had to wait until after the war to get married.

I love these shelves... so many memories in such a small space. Are you a sentimental old fool, a pack rat, a displayer of all things pretty...or, (shocking!) a clean and pristine kinda person?