The bookcase arrives

Amazingly (if you know us, you'll understand why), the bookcase made it home without incident.  Not that I had anything to do with it...  Being pregnant and all, the doctor imposed a 25 lb lift restriction.  25 lbs is an absoloutely pathetically small amount, especially when I'm used to carrying big bags of dog food by myself, but there it is.  I've broken the restriction several times, but Shayne was dead-set against me helping with the bookcase. 

So I didn't.  Armed with our rusty old truck and his friend R, Shayne brought the bookcase home.

I looked much bigger in our living room than it had in the shop window.  It was also taller than I remembered.  The spot I had cleared for it didn't work out, but it fit in beautifully across from the sofa.  I was surpried to find that all 6 shelves were included, even though there had only been 5 when we bought it.  Paul had also given us a key that fit the locks.  And the bookcase is identical to the photo I found on an internet acution site, except that ours is in better shape.  Score!

Before we brought the bookcase home, I was habing doubts about it.  It's a lot of money to spend on a bookcase, and I was afraid it wouldn't be as nice as I thought it had been.  But if anything, it's better.  I feel almost like we stole it, and I'd have probably paid even more for it.  And, even better, it looks wonderful in our living room.  It adds some much-needed character and a bit of not-so-simple beauty.  The curves and leaded glass are a nice counterpoint to the strong mission lines of the rest of the furniture.  Here it is in its new home:

I wasn't planning on filling it immediately, but once it was in the house, it seemed it was just begging to be used.  So, within 15 minutes of its homecoming, I was unpacking books that had been languishing in a rubbermaid tote for nearly 3 years.  It's now full of books that I love, and seems much happer to be being used again (Yes, my furniture has feelings.  Doesn't yours?).

Someday in the future, I'd like to have it professionally refinished, even though the scratches in the finish are much lighter than I originally thought.  For now, though, I'm happy with it just the way it is.  It's the focal point of the living room, which continues to inspire me and remind me what we can accomplish when we get off our butts to do it!