Tuesday 7 February 2012

The reading corner

Did you have a reading corner when you were at school?

A quiet little corner of the classroom with a shelf full of interesting books, and somewhere to sit.

And were you allowed to sit there at break time or in the lunch hour reading, away from the rough and tumble of the playground?

I always went to schools where you were turfed out into the cold and the hurly burly of the playground in the name of character building, but I have always loved the concept of the reading corner.


And since my orange house (with a permatan that can be viewed here) has turned a lovely shade of winter white, there is a little reading corner just for me, right next to my collection of old needlework and knitting books which provided the material and inspiration for my thesis.


On one shelf is a little china iron, once upon a time full of sweets, that my dear papa brought home from Germany for me oh! such a long time ago.


And on another is a handmade model of a cutter, or ship's boat, made for me by a very clever dear friend, in whose old stone church the Head Chef and I were married and my children baptised, not quite such a long time since.


In my little corner, I can sit on the very same chair from my childhood home on which I nursed the Ploughboy over twenty-one years ago, resting on the very first needlepoint cushion that I ever stitched, surrounded by pleasant memories, and I can wonder at how quickly the years have gone by.

27 comments:

Nicky said...

I shall imagine you sitting there now! Bliss is a good book and the time to enjoy it!

Lyn said...

we do ahd a reading corner in school but I am afraid the computers are much more popular!
xxx

Jewel said...

What a lovely little quiet corner! I miss having a reading corner! x

Madelief said...

What a lovely reading corner you have Pomona. I used to have a corner just like yours in our old house. Your post brings back lots of good memories!

Madelief x

Grateful4Crochet said...

oh how lovely!!
yes, we had a reading corner at school, and it was place of so much happiness, is lovely to see yours and be reminded of those times, may have to make my own reading corner

Isisjem said...

What a lovely little corner of treasures

Serenata said...

Lovely corner, and very peaceful looking. Isn't it quite amazing how quick time flies. It is quite scary really.

Inthesky said...

What a lovely little corner :)

Annie said...

What bliss ... I could imagine whiling away many happy hours there as I'm sure you will.

What exactly was the subject of your thesis Pomona?

Rowan said...

I have vague recollections of a reading corner at my Infant School. Yours looks very comfy and pleasant. I have one or two of the needlework books on your shelf. I especially noticed the Elizabeth Craig book, I don't have that particular book but I have a lot of cookery and household books by her.

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Oh goodness where does time go to, I find myself saying that so often nowadays!
Vivienne x

Sue said...

Like you my school allows insisted we go outside at break times. I would have far rather escaped into a story. Your reading corner looks delightful, I love old books and have a few old sewing ones that belonged to my grandmothers and a great aunt. I don't think I would ever be allowed a reading corner, the temptation to sit awhile would be too great to resist and thoughts of justing reading for a few minutes would I am sure turn into several hours.

Cheryl said...

I think I still need a reading corner to escape the hurly burly. We used to have one room that was floor to ceiling books. A wonderful escape. Your reading corner looks very inviting.

Lorrie said...

I've lived in a number of homes and in each one I find a special place to read. It's usually beside a window so I can gaze outside and think, if need be.

Your reading corner is full of memories, Pomona. I hope you spend plenty of time there.

Katy Cameron said...

Reading corner at school? Alas no. In fact my infant school teacher refused to bend to the logic that if she gave me a book I'd sit down and shut up, she insisted I had to sit down and be quiet before I got the book. I didn't read much at infant school, but I did do a whole load of other pupils' work... ;o) (I got to read loads at home though, in case you feared for my literary education)

Enjoy your reading corner!

Mrs. Micawber said...

I love the soft faded colours of old book bindings, especially all jumbled up together on a shelf. White walls are so peaceful and the perfect background for them.

I too am wondering what was the subject of your thesis.

P.S. Thank you so much for your very kind words. My mom is gone now.

Karen L R said...

Might you scoonch over a bit and make room for me to pull up a chair to join you? I'll bring a basket of scones...

Claire said...

Hey Pomona, what a lovely corner to while away some time...

To look back over your life and relive some happy memories.

You're right, time flies....would like to clip it's wings sometimes and slow it down !!

Claire :}

Helen Philipps said...

We didn't have a reading corner at my school, but if we had done I would have been in it! We had to brave the playground whatever the weather! Your little reading corner is so lovely, Pomona. And now is the perfect time to enjoy it!
Helen x

Catherine said...

Ooh yes a reading corner would have been marvelous.
A nursing corner..sweet memories.
When Anna was a baby & unsettled in the evenings I recall that I would sit through the evening nursing her & reading book after book..blowed if I can remember what it was I actually read now though! x0x0x

Canadian Abroad said...

That's not a reading corner, it's a fabulous corner full of memories. Love it!

gillyflower said...

That looks a special place to spend some time reading, sewing or just day dreaming.
Love both your cushion and the lampshade - so pretty.

Gill xx

Lola Nova said...

I am a big fan of the reading corner, and yours is especially lovely. In school I would have spent every last minute in a reading corner if I had been allowed. Instead during play (recess) time, I would climb atop the play gym bars and sit up there reading a book until the bell rang.

I love that you have made up your corner with things that have special memories, what a wonderful place to sit and read (when you have the odd quiet moment that is :))

Julie said...

What a perfect spot for reading. I always have a favourite place to curl up too. I especially like your chair from when you where little and where you nursed your little ones. We have a little chair that belonged to my grandparents and that's where Islay gets her night-time stories. Juliex

Floss said...

I used to have a reading corner in my classroom when I taught the Infants in a two-teacher school! It was one of my favourite places, particularly after school when I used to sit down and record readings of the books for the pre-readers!

I do like your version. I guess I have a similar area, but it lacks a chair. I should look into this...


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Elizabeth Musgrave said...

Yes we had a reading corner and it was my very favourite place. The challenge was to keep other people out of it because it worked so much better if I had it to myself. I could do you quite a good scowl, but, being basically a cheery soul, had to work myself up to it all morning which was wearing. My very lovely but overfull house would certainly be improved by a reading corner. The question is what to evict to create it. Yours is perfect.

Barbara said...

I do not recall a reading corner at school but I certainly have a few in my home.

Loved looking back at your November post - I must have missed that.

Interesting to see some of the other side of the wall!!!

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