books — Page 120

Random on Saturday

November 24, 2018 at 10:33 am by Claudia

So far, late fall and early winter seems to consist of a stuffy head and very little energy. I’m hoping that disappears ASAP, because I’m over it. Sometimes, it’s triggered by allergies and/or a weather change. I also think it’s too dry in here with the heat on so I’m going to start in with the danged humidifier again. I was tired yesterday – so was Don – after a busy week. Multiple trips to NYC, my birthday, Thanksgiving…that’s a lot for us. So we both took it easy.

I’m planning to do more of the same today as I have to go back to the city tomorrow to do a bit more coaching in the morning on Anastasia. Then, it’s back home.

We’ve been watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime. Have you seen it? It’s a new series that won multiple Emmy awards and we both agree that it’s the best thing we’ve seen in years. In fact, after the first episode ended, we sat on the sofa and could only say, “Wow. Wow! WOW!!” Incredible performances by everyone involved, pitch perfect set design, and a music soundtrack that feels like something I would have picked. Whoever decides on the music must be my twin. Anyway, I – we – recommend it highly. We’re watching Episode 8 tonight, which is the last episode of the first season. The second season debuts in early December.

The book that Don gave me for my birthday (found in a local used bookstore):

Can’t wait to dig in! Maybe I can start using a slew of ‘descriptive” French phrases when complaining about you-know-who.

And I have to share the birthday card from Rick and Doug, which echoes something I had remarked on just a few days earlier:

Ain’t that the truth!

You might remember that I buy one or two Vintage by Crystal designs every year. Her work is exquisite. This came yesterday:

She calls this a Butterfly Rider. I am enchanted by her. She comes with an ornament hook.

Crystal’s work is made primarily of spun cotton and paper ephemera.

I think I’ll try to take a photo of all my Vintage by Crystal pieces so you can get an idea of her sense of whimsy. And you know that I love whimsy.

Happy Saturday.

Nesting Mode

November 15, 2018 at 10:59 am by Claudia

We’re awaiting the winter storm that is going to arrive around 5 pm. 3 – 6 inches of snow and, because it will be mixed with sleet, it will be heavy, wet snow. So, we’re not going to get that first pretty, fluffy snow. We’re going to get a friggin’ mess.

We did what we had to yesterday, pulled the A/C units out of our windows, put them in bins and stacked them in the shed. Then Don went off to run errands and I worked outside (and it was cold!) for about three hours, emptying pots from the front porch, taking the cushions off the porch furniture, moving things into the shed. Don offered to help, but really, I’m the only one who knows exactly what to do out there as it’s my territory. There are a couple of plants that are still blooming, so I left them there. I am incapable of dumping a plant that is still alive. It’s simply not possible. Next week, we’ll take the adirondack chairs and a couple of other porch pieces to our storage facility and I’ll move the Secret Garden and Funky Patio chairs and tables to the porch for the winter. There’s still more to do out there, but the bulk of it is done.

Yours truly was tuckered out last night.

We fell asleep while watching a documentary about Henry VII last night. If you ever want to catch a nap during the day, watch a documentary. I like documentaries, don’t get me wrong, but the voice of the narrator eventually becomes white noise and you’re off to slumberland.

I finished the James Lee Burke novel last night and, since I’m in the mood for more, found another on my shelves from a few years back that I had barely started and never finished. I’ve read most of his Dave Robicheaux books, but I went through a period where I stopped reading them.

Time to catch up.

Oh, and I received the most wonderful, whimisical book about miniatures from an English author. I’ll share it with you after I’ve explored it.

I’ve officially moved into nesting mode, as I do every year about this time. Our cottage seems especially cozy and I find myself looking around, searching for things to change and/or tweak. I’m switching out the pillows on the loveseat, putting the cushions from the glider on the sofa (after cleaning them.) Some will go in storage, others will join the mass of cushions on the sofa in the den. And I’m reading, reading, reading. After the reading drought earlier this year, I’m so grateful to be immersed in a book!

Happy Thursday.

Limiting

November 11, 2018 at 10:17 am by Claudia

I forgot to share this paperweight I found in Paris – it’s from the Musée d’Orsay. Monet and waterlilies. I love it.

On the past two more mornings, I haven’t turned on my phone to check email or scroll through Instagram, but have, instead, sipped coffee while reading a novel. Now, this isn’t breaking news and it may indeed be what many of you do every morning. As a matter of fact, pre-cell phones, that’s exactly what I did every morning. I made coffee, sat down in my chair, and read for a few hours.

This year I went through a period of being unable to concentrate long enough to read any fiction. I read some non-fiction, but very little fiction, which has always been my first love. I found it alarming, though I’ve been through it before. I’m pretty sure it was the result of a couple of things: the ongoing stress I have felt since the election which has made me unable to concentrate for long on anything and the amount of time that I spent on the computer and phone checking twitter and the news and then trying to distract myself with pretty pictures on Instagram.

Fortunately, I got through the worst of that period and came out on the other side and now I’m reading fiction again. I read a big chunk of my current book yesterday afternoon, as well.

But I noticed a couple of things while on our trip. I felt much less eye strain because I wasn’t constantly looking at a backlit screen. And I was much happier when I wasn’t concentrating on either of those devices. (Not to mention the fact that I was much, much happier when I wasn’t concentrating on the news.)

I’m going to make some changes. I’m not going to leave my laptop on all day. I’ll write the blog post, check emails and sign off. Later in the day, I’ll sign on again to respond to comments. I’m also going to try to limit the time I spend on IG. Once in the morning, maybe a quick post or two during the day. The rest of the time? Puttering around the house, doing chores, listening to music, going somewhere that’s visually stimulating, and reading.

Reading has always been of the utmost importance to me. So I must ensure that I allow time for that. My current reading selection is Michael Connelly’s latest. He’s such an excellent writer that I have had no trouble losing myself in the story and that helps.

I love Instagram because I love the photos people share and I’m very visual. But I also don’t want to be one of those people who constantly checks her phone. Life’s too short.

A couple of questions: Have you struggled with limiting screen time? Since I publish a blog post daily and also post on IG, screen time can be problematic. Have you struggled with reading this year? And – finally – what are you reading right now?

That’s a lot of questions, I know, but I think it might be helpful for us to have a dialogue about these things.

Happy Sunday.

Random on Saturday

Nesting Mode

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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