Admiring her bookcase

So, Little Owen, what do you think?  Peggy Sue asks as she shows Little Owen her bookcase set up in her room.

It is looking pretty good.  Little Owen agrees.  I think a book is missing though...

Little Owen looks intently for HIS MOST IMPORTANT book.

Yes, it is definitely missing.  He thinks to himself.  

I think it must be over by the toy box where you were last reading it.  Peggy Sue informs him.  We will put it in the bookcase later.

Peggy Sue just can't stop looking at her bookcase and thinks it might also be a good place for her to display some of her shell collection.  

Now she has to decide whether she is going to paint it, varnish it, or leave it as it is, but that will have to wait until April. 

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This bookcase is really special as it is very similar to one my Dad made me when I would have been a similar age to Peggy Sue.  Dad made mine from all wood, but it would have been a similar similar siaze and proportion to me as this is to her.   My Mum and Dad still have it - Mum incorporated it into a side wall divider unit she built years ago.  I must take a photo of it while I am over there.

A very big thank you to DollMum for helping to make this vision and dream into a reality.  It really does mean a lot to me as I was an avid reader as a young child (we had no television, and actually still don't and as such I still read a lot)  and books were very important to me.

Peggy Sue's Bookcase

Back in November Peggy Sue was planning a bookcase and wondered just how she was going to make one when her friend Reuben came to the rescue and said he would love to help make one for her if she would send him the measurements of which she had worked out.   She carefully typed up a letter which can be seen in this post here.

Well last week Reuben wrote to her and told her he had found the right materials and was hoping to get the pieces ready to bring round on Sunday afternoon so that they could make it together.  Peggy Sue was so excited to see Reuben and Laura, Timothy, Edmund and Isabel who also came for the afternoon. You can see Reuben getting all the materials and planning out the bookcase on this post by DollMum by clicking here.

Henry looks at the pieces of board with interest and asks Reuben a few questions as to materials and tools needed to make them.   Reuben explains just how the pieces were found, measured and cut to size.  Peggy Sue looks amazed while Laura, Timothy, Edmund and Isobel look on knowing just how clever Reuben is at making things.

Will these really make a bookcase? She asks.

Absolutely.  Replies Reuben.  Would you like to help me sand the edges to make sure they are really smooth?

Peggy Sue was delighted to be asked to help.  

'I'm  we're going to build a bookcase!' She says excitedly. 

We now have to glue the pieces together.  Reuben explains.

One the pieces were glued, the next stage was clamping the bookcase together.

Reuben, with Henry's help sets up the clamps and Peggy Sue and Isabel tighten the clamps with Edmund's help.

Not too tight, but just enough to keep the pieces firmly together.  

That should do it!  

They all go off to play for a couple of hours while the glue dries.

Reuben and the lads quietly went back to take the clamps off the bookcase and put a few books in it...

They call in Peggy Sue.

Late afternoon, Peggy Sue can't quite believe her eyes.

Oh my!  She exclaims.  This is just perfect, it is exactly how I envisioned it to be.

With a few books in it to check it out for size, Peggy Sue really can't quite believe her eyes.

We've actually built a bookcase!  You really are SO clever Reuben!

She rushes over to give Reuben a big hug of thanks.  Poor Reuben, is a little unsure, he is not used to the over exuberant  attentions of someone quite like Peggy Sue.

Uh, um...it was no problem Peggy Sue.  Reuben says slightly embarrassed.  

Peggy Sue can't wait to get it up in her bedroom and put all her books in it!

A big thank you to DollMum, DollMum's lovely daughter and of course Reuben, who made it all possible and his friends Laura, Timothy, Edmund and Isabel who was delighted to see her friend Wren, for such a wonderful afternoon!