Shop Class

"Honey, park on the other side of the garage tonight, please.  I'm setting up the Shop early this year."  My husband sent me the text message on a warm February afternoon, and I was happy to comply.  The garage becoming the Shop is a sure sign of Spring.

I really enjoy the Shop.  The garage door open, the smell of sawdust, the sounds of the tools, the sight of a new project taking shape, a handsome man working.  I will often take my cup of coffee out there and just sit and watch and soak in the atmosphere.  Sometimes I might help out with the circular saw or in the finishing process.  It's a very Zen place to be, both physically and mentally.

If you are looking for a reason to spend some time in your Shop this Spring, I suggest building a Little Free Library.  Never heard of a Little Free Library?  The movement started in Wisconsin in 2009, and by 2015 the number of registered Little Free Libraries around the world topped 22,000.  You build the house for the books, put it in your yard, fill it with books, and people borrow them, and leave their own.  It's a great way to re-purpose, build community, and share a passion for reading and books.

 Plans for Little Free Libraries can be found for free online at LittleFreeLibrary.org.  But what if you're not so handy and still want to get in on the action?  There are lots of ideas for re-purposed Little Free Libraries.  Pinterest has a lot of ideas to spark your imagination.  How about an old suitcase (best for sheltered areas)? Or an old mini-fridge?  Metal bread boxes, mail boxes, tool boxes-basically anything weatherproof will work.

What to put in your library?  Fill it with your own books that you no longer read.  Some folks choose a theme, like children's books.  And you will find that as people take a book they will leave another in it's place.  If you need some "seed" for your library, the Superior Public Library always has books for sale in the Friends of the Library corner.  And the annual Friends of the Superior Public Library Book Sale is coming up April 29 from 9 am to 7 pm, and April 30 from 10 am to 2 pm. You can pick up more items than your Little Free Library will hold and help the Library out at the same time.

If you need a refresher in Shop class, the library has all the info you need.  Check out our display at the back desk. I know it just snowed, but Spring starts officially next week.  Really, it does.  Enjoy an early project in the Shop, and then watch what happens.  If you build it, they will come.


Some locations in Superior: 76th St. and Ogden Ave.
                                              59th St. and Cumming Ave.
                                              57th St. and Ogden Ave.
                                              21st St. and Ogden Ave.

Find more locations in the Twin Ports at LittleFreeLibrary.org

One Man's Trash is Another Man's Treasure

This weekend, April 25th and 26th, the Friends of the Superior Public Library will put on their annual Book Sale.  The Friends spend all year preparing for this 2 day sale, sorting and pricing the many books, CDs, music, and art that will be for sale. Most of the items come from the generous donations of our patrons.  Every so often a person will come in with bags and boxes full of books or movies.  "I need to clean this stuff out.  I don't have the room for it anymore."  I will usually see that same person at the sale with bags and boxes full of new acquisitions. They will go home, read their "new" books, watch their "new" movies, and re-donate them.  But in among all the "new" stuff they will find a new favorite that will stay on their shelf. It will become a permanent member of their collection, and will be treasured.


The first book I ever purchased for myself was a library bound copy of Sir Walter Scott's 'Ivanhoe".  It was purchased at Cathedral School's Mardi Gras, which still takes place every year.  Back then they had a White Elephant room with donated items for sale.  There were always lots of books.  It had a plain red cover-didn't look like much. But the binding was sewn and it had beautiful copperplate illustrations.  I treasured it. I was so sad when our basement flooded and everything in the bookcase was ruined.

I have a whole series of etiquette books that have been purchased second-hand.  The oldest one is from 1877. I keep these in the new bookcase upstairs.

                                                                                                                   
(The etiquette books hold a weird fascination for me.  They give a look at the mores of a society that has gone through a lot of changes.  Some have beautiful illustrations:

One has an unusual section about dating married men:)

 And who knew there would be art work at the  book sale? A few years ago I picked up 2 beautiful watercolors at one of the library's sale for $2.00 a piece, had them re-framed, and hung them in the kitchen.

If you are having a fit of uncluttering the library takes donations all year round.  It's not too late to donate for this year's sale.  And after you make all that room, stop by and refill those empty shelves.  You never know what new treasures you'll find.