Claudia — Page 1339

Making a Snow Globe

December 2, 2013 at 9:46 am by Claudia

When to decorate for Christmas? Some start decorating before Thanksgiving. Others wait until December. My dad’s family didn’t put up their Christmas Tree until Christmas Eve. Each of us has a tradition, a preferred time to start in all the hoopla.

If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you know I have a rule: absolutely no decorating until at least the second week of December. I don’t like the bleeding over from one holiday to another that seems to rule the world of commerce and even our world of blogging. October = Halloween. November = Thanksgiving (and my birthday.) December = Christmas. I like some breathing space between my holidays. If I decorate too early, I find that by the time Christmas actually rolls around, I’m so used to seeing all the decorations that I don’t really see them anymore. The magic is long gone.

Anyway, when it’s time to decorate, I avoid themes like the plague. We use our vintage and beloved ornaments. We hang a wreath on the door. We decorate our little white tree in the living room and the big tree in the den. Simple.

Yesterday, I put together the only Christmas decoration that will be on display until I officially start decorating. It’s something I created a couple of years ago, when I found a vintage Necco candy jar in an antique shop. I made a snow globe. Or as I called it at the time, a Necco Snow Globe.

Making a Snowglobe

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I started with the jar. It’s quite large, about 13 inches in height, and is in the Art Deco Style. It’s one of my favorite finds.

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Because of its design, I am able to turn it on its side.

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It’s very simple. Buy some Kosher Salt or Epsom Salt.

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Decide what you want in your display. In my case, I’m using these fir trees.

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And this little Putz house.

And a tiny pine cone.

Fill the bottom of your jar with the coarse salt.

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And add your scenic elements.

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And you’re done.

Oooh. Isn’t it pretty?

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It couldn’t be simpler. You can use any size jar, from a tiny baby food jar or salt shaker to a large jar like this one.

Who doesn’t love a snow globe?

I was a bit low on Kosher Salt and I’m going to buy some more today because I want that layer of snow to be deeper than it is.

Just like the first time I put the snow globe together, Don came in the door and noticed it right away. (This isn’t always the case!)

Do you make your own snow globes? And when do you start decorating?

I must take a moment to acknowledge the derailment of the Metro North commuter train yesterday. Four people were killed and many injured. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in this terrible accident. This particular line – the Hudson Line – is the train I have taken countless times when commuting into Manhattan.

Happy Monday.

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Creative Clutter: When Tidy Needs to Take a Hike

December 1, 2013 at 9:21 am by Claudia

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All photos edited with the Tranquil Effect on PicMonkey

If I had to use two words to describe the cottage today, I would choose Creative Clutter. There are piles of books waiting to be read, potted impatiens brought in from the porch and stashed everywhere, paintbrushes drying in a piece of McCoy Pottery. On the top of the dollhouse: tools and paint and scraps of wood. On the coffee table in the living room: stacks of books, an agenda, guitar picks, scribbled notes, all of Don’s creative tools. A guitar tucked in a corner of the living room. On my desk: more scribbled notes, my filofax, stamps, colored pens, a scrap of fabric.

I sometimes struggle with Creative Clutter. I tend to be tidy. Don, however, loves it. He sees it as creative stimulation, proof that interesting things are happening here in the cottage. He’s right, of course.

Now, the piles of mail and paper on the kitchen table don’t fall under the category of Creative Clutter. They need some attention. But the rest? Right now, it’s not bothering me. I’d rather be in the midst of projects in process. I’d rather be in a wonderful creative tangle. I’d rather see books everywhere, with places marked, waiting to be picked up once again. I’d rather see paintbrushes and paints and flowering plants on every available surface and guitar picks and the words to a new song hastily written on a scrap of paper.

I’m learning. I’m learning to pick my battles. I’m learning to let go of my need for order when that very order might stifle creative expression. I’m learning that this cottage is the home of two very creative people and if they are creating….things are good. Better than good.

Happy Sunday.

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Scout Blogs: I’m Exhausted

November 30, 2013 at 9:16 am by Claudia

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I’m exhausted.

No, really. You have no idea.

Herding these two people around, making sure I get to eat when I want to, barking at strange people who come to the door, watching and waiting for my dad to come back home when he’s been out in the car, pouncing, pouncing on cue because Mom seems to think I should perform for her, waiting for food to fall to the floor when dad is cooking….the list just goes on and on.

Lately, Dad has been getting up at the same time as Mom. What?????

This is a guy who has always, always slept in. So, Mom would get up and drink her coffee and I would get in the ‘tunnel’ and spend some time with her until Dad got up and then I would dutifully switch locations and spend some time with Dad.

Everyone was happy.

Now, I have to figure out where to go and one of my parents is always disappointed. Usually, it’s Mom.

It’s too much pressure.

I can’t make everyone happy.

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Let’s not even mention the recent incident with the lamb costume.

And the hats.

I know you all saw it because Mom put pictures of me wearing that darned costume on the blog. Can’t I retain some sort of dignity?

Mom put that costume on me twice. And then she dragged out that camera and took lots of pictures. I tried to walk away. I tried to not meet her eyes. Does Mom realize how silly she looks with this black box in front of her eyes? I don’t get it. And I don’t like it.

The first time Mom put me in the costume was when Tina was here. Apparently, Tina made it.

The second time Mom put me in the costume, Dad was home. And once I was in it, Mom and Dad laughed and laughed. At me.

Maybe I should put them in a costume. I have some ideas. Oh boy, what I could do with a needle and thread!

Again, exhausting.

And Dad does things like this, he covers me with some sort of throw and asks Mom to come look and then…you guessed it…out comes the camera. Again.

Do you think Mom realizes I’m sticking my tongue out? At her?

I doubt it. She’ll think I’m just licking my chops.

Which, by the way, I do a lot. That’s my cue. That’s my M.O. When I lick my chops, Mom is supposed to immediately get up and feed me. I mean, right away. But she doesn’t. She sticks to something she calls her ‘schedule.’ She says things like “It’s too early.” Or “Not yet.” Or “No, you can’t have another treat.”

Even when I resort to my brilliant lick-my-chops-and-cock-my-head-toward-the-treat-cupboard move, she will stand there, look me in the eye and say NO.

What? That is a guaranteed, no fail and, in my humble opinion, adorable move.

And to top it all off, now I have to go outside to do my business in frigid temperatures. It’s cold out there! Why can’t I use that bathroom, too? Mom and Dad do.

It seems unfair.

By the way, I’m fascinated by the bathroom. I wander in there a lot during the day. I sniff the bathtub. I sniff the toilet. I sniff the trash. It’s now part of my rounds.

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Mom had a birthday last week. I got to sniff all her presents. I even licked a few. I like presents. I get excited when I see them. I gave her a sign about eating cupcakes. I know her weakness.

I didn’t get a present. That doesn’t seem fair, either.

But my birthday is coming up in January. I’ll be 15 years old.

I expect some presents. (I assume Mom and Dad will be reading this – especially Mom because she thinks this is her blog.)

It isn’t.

Happy Saturday.

Scout

Making a Snow Globe

Creative Clutter: When Tidy Needs to Take a Hike

Scout Blogs: I’m Exhausted

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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