Scene of the Blog Featuring Carina of Reading Through Life

During up in my small Midwestern farm town, I was told more than once that I would be a teacher and librarian right there in town. If you noticed the words told and would, and if you know that I balk when given orders, you might deduce one of the reasons why I moved away.

Be that as it may, there's something about being a school teacher or school librarian that appeals to me, although since I'm able to view the profession without the presence of the red tape of bureaucracy, my perspective is probably a bit rosy. (If I were to say, "Oh Captain, my Captain!" would anyone be able to name the film I'm quoting?) Well, today I have the pleasure of featuring a teacher from Toronto, Canada. I've been reading Carina's blog, Reading Through Life, for a few months now and I really enjoy the mix of books she talks about: anything from popular fiction to the classics. This month marks Carina's six-month blogoversary, so this would be a perfect opportunity to stop by, say hello, and sign up for her celebratory giveaway!

Let's see where Carina does all that creative blogging, shall we? Don't forget that you can click on each photo to view it full size.

This is my desk at work, where I do a lot of my blogging throughout the school day between classes, at lunch, and during my prep. The entrance to the room is over on the left, and desks, computers, and bookshelves are behind me and to both sides. Over on the right, those couches are where I - and my students - spend time quietly reading at random points throughout the day.

This is where the majority of my reading, and a lot of my blogging, happens. It's comfy and cozy, there's a huge window on the right that takes up almost the entire wall of the room, and you can see the mountain of TBR books poking out of the curtain in the picture. That laptop there is my semi-trusty sidekick. This is my favourite place to read in the house largely because I can close the door to my room and have peace and quiet, or I can open the door and the windows and let the sounds of the rest of my apartment and of the streets behind my building in if I feel like it. It's also great to curl up under my giant comforter (which is not in the picture since it's gotten so warm these days) to read in the winter.

This is my desk in the office, which I'm hoping to start using soon! Somehow, even though we moved into this apartment in December, we still haven't really started to use this room for anything but storage. But one day, I will actually start writing here. This is also the room where my fiction is stored, alphabetically by author.

Welcome to my living room, where the rest of my blogging takes place in the meantime. I generally camp out on one of the futons with a book or my computer, and am joined by my furry little friends, Mona and Skittles. I've included a picture from during the 24 Hour Read-A-Thon, when they came to join me! That black shelf is where I store my non-fiction - but not cookbooks - which my roommate and I peruse from time to time even when we're not looking for something specific. Guests love to take a look at what I've got sitting there, and particularly to note the interesting transitions between different combinations of books, given that this shelf is sorted using the Dewey Decimal System.

I love Carina's reading buddies, and the strong use of color in her apartment. I also have to admit that the drop-front style of desk she has in her office has forever interested me because I keep thinking I could use it to hide away all the piles I always have on my desk!

The school photos bring back memories. I still recognize the place even though we had stone tablets and chisels in my day-- not computers!

Thank you so very much for allowing us this glimpse into your reading and blogging spaces, Carina. We certainly appreciate it!

Stop by next Wednesday to see the creative spaces of another wonderful book blogger. See you then!