life — Page 313

Monday Morning Potpourri

December 3, 2012 at 10:02 am by Claudia

I have lots to talk about this morning – this will be one of my Potpourri Posts.

Do you see that stainless steel trash can next to the stove? We love this trashcan and paid a hefty amount for it several years ago. The lid is air tight and all you have to do to open it is lightly touch a piece of plastic at the front of the can. It’s made by OXO. We’ve had a few problems with the lid over the years. Most of it is solid stainless steel, but the edges are made of some sort of plastic. Over time, we’ve found the plastic sometimes splits, throwing off the functionality of the lid.

Each time this happened, I had visions of having to spend a lot of money for a new trash can. I wrote to OXO telling them of the problem and asked if we could just get a lid replacement, which we would be happy to pay for, hoping we could do that rather than replace the whole can. And each time, OXO has graciously FedExed a new lid to us. Three times. For free.

You read that right. For free. This company has the best customer service I have ever encountered and I wanted you to know about it. They make all sorts of things, including utensils and items for the kitchen. They are simply fantastic. So, a big hurrah for OXO!! And no, I’m not being paid for this. I just want to share some stellar customer service with you in an age where it can be sadly lacking.

Last night, we watched The Best of the Andy Williams Christmas Show on PBS.

I miss him.

I’ve always been a fan of his beautiful voice. And all those Henry Mancini songs sung by Andy Williams; Moon River, Charade, The Days of Wine and Roses, were a part of my youth and are even now on my playlist. I love them. But the Christmas specials – they were something I looked forward to every year. The extended Williams family looked so happy, so together, so free from care. Of course, as an adult, I know that it was staged for television – but I wanted to be a part of that happy glow, singing carols around a piano with everyone taking part, no Christmas day arguments, no hurt feelings. Just happy.

Watching these specials took me back in time once more. Don and I were both smiling, remembering a seemingly gentler time. Thank you, Andy Williams. It doesn’t seem possible that you are not here with us this Christmas.

If you’ve read this blog for a while, you know I have a rule about Christmas decorating. No decorations until the second week of December. This snow globe is the only thing on display here at the moment and that’s only because I never took it off display. I realize that this is a personal choice. Many of you have already started decorating. But for me, if I have decorations on display from the moment Thanksgiving ends until after the first of the year, the holiday loses its magic. I get used to seeing everything and I don’t really ‘see’ it anymore, if you know what I mean.

I see all sorts of holiday decorating linkups happening in blogland. But I almost never take part, because it would involve moving my decorating up on the calendar and I’m just not going to do that. It’s December 3rd and for me that’s too early. But I sure love seeing what everyone else is doing and I’m enjoying all the beauty around blogland. Note: Since Don is leaving in mid-December to work in California, I may move it up a few days. But only a few.

When do you decorate?

And finally:

A new scarf in the shop. I listed another one over the weekend and it sold before I could show it to you. Here are the Obsession Scarves currently available:

On the left, the Obsession Scarf in Claret. This is a rich burgundy color and it’s in silk and bamboo. Soft and silky.

Center, Obsession Scarf in Rainforest. Beautiful colors in wool and acrylic. Very soft.

Right, Obsession Scarf in Tutti Frutti. Wool and acrylic. Very soft.

There are also shawls (beautifully woven by my sister, Meredith) in the shop. And Meredith has crocheted some wonderful Granny Chic scarves which I love, love, love. Stop by for a visit.

Happy Monday.

Friday Free Associating

November 30, 2012 at 8:36 am by Claudia

I hung on to my porch plants for dear life this year. Countless cold evenings found me dragging them all indoors for the night. One by one, the impatiens are fading but I have 2 pots that are still blooming. The hanging plants lasted until yesterday when I forgot to bring them in for the night. Actually, I most likely forgot on purpose as the realization that it was almost December hit me. It ain’t going to get warmer, Claudia (I said to myself.)

I have this problem. I can’t let anything die if there is a way of saving it. Bug, spider, potted plant – you name it. I am Chief Rescuer here at the cottage. But this year, more than any other year, I hung onto those plants for dear life. It gets harder and harder for me to leave summer behind and move into the dark days of winter and besides, I love my potted plants. I guess this means porch life is officially suspended until spring. Sob.

Colder weather means more indoor life. More nesting. More scarf making. I don’t mind telling you, I have been on a roll with the scarves. Lots and lots of crocheting. I’m trying to add more stock to the Etsy shop for your Christmas-present-buying-pleasure. Speaking of Christmas:

Do you see that volume of George Bernard Shaw at the top of the photo? Pygmalion and Three Other Plays? Don is going to be playing Alfred Doolittle in a production of Pygmalion out at our old stomping grounds, The Old Globe. He leaves in December. Before Christmas. We’ll celebrate early, of course, but this will be the first time we haven’t been together at Christmas since the year we met (when I went home to Michigan to visit my parents and coped with knowing looks exchanged by my mother and father when I would leave the room for yet another long phone call with that mysterious ‘Don.’)

It will be strange. And bittersweet.

And for those of you have been kind enough to check in, Scoutie is back to her old self again. We’re so thankful. She’s feisty, naggy, funny, and full of herself. The antibiotics are doing their magic and my girl with the poodle-like front legs is once more the Princess of Mockingbird Hill Cottage.

Don has a friend who has a Border Collie who is 18. Scout will be 14 in January. So, you see, I plan on another 4+ years.

I am totally in love with my girl. And I miss my Riley. Christmas won’t seem right without him.

It promises to be a very different holiday season this year.

If you check in on my blog roll, don’t panic, it’s still here. It’s now on the navigation bar at the top of the page under “Blog Love.”

I’ll be back at 8:00 EST for A Favorite Thing.

Happy Friday,

Music Hath Charms…

November 28, 2012 at 9:07 am by Claudia

As someone who is very musical – I play the piano, I have sung professionally onstage and off – I sometimes find myself missing music. Since I seem to like quiet more and more as I get older, I often work in a fairly silent atmosphere (save for the sound of traffic outside my window and Scout breathing heavily as she sleeps.) The sound on my laptop is muted. I don’t like being greeted by music when I click on a blog because it is usually not my taste and I find the sudden intrusion of someone else’s choice of music jarring. All this is to say I like quiet.

But I love music. And sometimes, in the midst of stress and worry and things to do and errands to run and bills to pay, I realize that I haven’t been listening to my favorite music lately. And that ain’t good. So I get out my earbuds and listen to my playlist, either on my iPhone or laptop.

And I feel better.

Music Hath Charms to Soothe the Savage Breast – William Congreve

It does, indeed. Why do I forget to treat myself to music’s restorative powers? Does that ever happen to you, my friends?

iTunes has a category that lists the “Top 25 Most Played.” I thought I’d share 20 of them with you.

Some of these you may be familiar with, others may be new to you. At the very least, it shows that I like a bit of everything.

A few notes: (1) the version of Both Sides Now I am referencing is the newest version, which you can find on YouTube. It is simply breathtaking. An older, wiser Mitchell who has lived a long life since she first recorded this song, sings from her gut in her now husky, cigarette-smoky voice. I cannot listen to this without crying. (2) Nancy LaMott was a cabaret singer who had one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard – crystal clear, beautifully nuanced. She died much too young from cancer at the age of 43. This particular version of Out of This World by Harold Arlen and So in Love by Cole Porter is stunningly beautiful. Here is a live version of her singing this at the Algonquin. (3) Yes, that Don Sparks. My husband. This is my favorite of all the wonderful songs he’s written. Here’s his ReverbNation website and if you scroll down the list of songs (all worth listening to) you’ll see I’d Sing You. It makes me swoon. While you’re there, check out Dreams (written about my parents), I’ve Got a Love, Don’t Tell Me Heart and Say It Twice.

What music is on your ‘playlist’ – whether it is online, on your CD player, or your iPod? What changes your mood, what gives you peace or joy? What do you find yourself playing most often?

One other note: Singer Fiona Apple just wrote a letter to her fans explaining her reason for postponing the South American part of her tour. She wants to stay home with her beloved dog, who is dying. This is one beautiful letter.

Happy Wednesday.

Monday Morning Potpourri

Friday Free Associating

Music Hath Charms…

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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