This photo says it all: I wanted an iPhone for Christmas and Don (who is staying away from the computer more and more lately) wanted a vintage typewriter. I found this 1961 Remington Monarch on eBay and it’s a beauty! The two-tone case is covered in a linen-like fabric. Hi-tech and low-tech happily coexisting in the Hill-Sparks household.
One day, I’m going to get a vintage IBM Selectric. I worked many an office job on Selectrics and I absolutely love them.
The rat-a-tat-tat of the keys was a constant yesterday afternoon. Don was like a kid again.
I hope you all had a wonderful day. Ours was filled with presents, dogs, food, music, dancing and more food. It started off with this:
My Christmas Coffee Cake. Don likes to butter the top.
Santa left some peanut buttery treats for the doggies. (Since we have no fireplace, the yule log via the television is on throughout the morning.)
Christmas Scoutie.
I’m always a bit sad when Christmas, with all the decorating and shopping and planning, is suddenly over. No Christmas music playing on the car radio, no Christmas movies on television, no beautifully wrapped packages…. I remember being very upset by that when I was a child. I suspect I still am that child on the inside. Just like I want my birthday to extend for a week, I want Christmas to be more than one day.
As to beautifully wrapped packages, full disclosure: I forgot to buy scotch tape, so I had to seal my packages with blue painter’s tape. Yep.
I’m glad you liked the photo of my mom, dad, brother and me visiting Santa in yesterday’s post. Poor Meredith (my sister.) Every time she sees that photo, she wonders where she and my other sister figure into the equation. You see, there was just my brother and me for many years. Then, when I was 8 and Dave was 13, Leslie came along. Three years later, Meredith came along. So it was like there were two sets of kids. The older ones and the younger ones. Meredith, you were a beautiful child and I sorely wish I had a photo of you and Santa. Ask Dad if he has one. Then I will be more than happy to post it. After all, you are my adored youngest sister.
I’m off to run some errands. Have a great day.
Oh my gosh, this post has me laughing. When I first started working, the office got me an IBM selectric ~ I thought it was the slickest machine ever~! So glad your day was a good one ;-)
Claudia- Merry Belated Christmas. I, too, used IBM selectrics when I was working. One of my bosses liked me so much he ordered me a RED one! How I loved that typewriter.
It looks like you had a wonderful day and your “babies” look pretty happy to me. I hope today is just as beautiful! xo Diana
Like you, there is always a let-down feeling after Christmas.
I love the photo of you, sibling and parents. I smiled when I saw your mom’s head scarf…I have worn this room full of them. And…I wish, so hard, that guys would wear these hats again.:)
xo bj
Just love this blog. Like he did I’d put butter on my coffee cake. We also had our fireplace on the tv since we do not really have one. I’m using up all the Christmas paper and bags this year and next. I’d really like to use plain brown paper, bakers twine or red ribbon and stickers or stamps for my packages. It is fun to be different. I’ll also keep colorful Christmas bags on hand to use for a ziplock bag of candy treats I make to give away to friends and neighbors. I’m learning to reach out just a little again. It is hard even to stop and put a treat in someones door. A lot of people have gotten really grouchy and I never know what their reaction will be. But hey, I’m going to try a little more each year and see how it goes. The neighbor this year was all smiles and thankful. So that was a great experience. Have a wonderful “day after” Christmas.
Awesome photos today, Claudia… and by the way, have you ever posted the recipe for your coffee cake? Gosh it looks YUMMY. I typed on an IBM Selectric for years as well… my favorite typewriter of all time. Sure hope you find one as that would be very cool to have. :-)) Loving the jammies!!!
Very sweet Christmas Day photos! I love your pj’s! I remember in high school when we went from manual typewriters to selectrics! We felt like we were in really modern times! Now we are talking about selectrics in vintage terms! Your coffee cake looks yummy!~Hugs, Patti
Love your pj’s!
looks like a great day, and that coffee cake looks reallllllyyyyyyy
good!
I,m sad too ,that Christmas is over too soon. i too , love the Christmas movies and the Music. Sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas Dear Claudia
Your Christmas day looks wonderful — and delicious for both doggies and humans! May the magic linger throughout this week and beyond.
Vintage and today. Lovely contrast with the typewriter and iPhone. We are playing videos today, series, Geroge Smiley is on right now.
Such a fun post! I just love how you each got what you wanted…and the tale of the blue painter’s tape is priceless! Glad you had a wonderful Christmas, Claudia! Oh…the Yule Log made an appearance in our living room, too lol!
Hi Claudia,
Loved your Christmas story…sounds like a perfect day. I couldn’t help but notice…you and my daughter were sporting the same PJ’s yesterday morning. She calls them her “Timmy the Squirrel pajamas”. I did a double-take!
Happy Day After,
Cheryl
At first when I saw that typewriter I wondered where do you get ribbons for those now? Are they still made? I wasn’t a fan of Selectrics, only because I wanted to be able to throw that carriage return back myself! And the coffee cake looks delicious!
Merry After Christmas Day to you!
It looks like you had a lovely Christmas Claudia. I adore your p.j.s. Your doggies look very happy with their Christmas gifts. Your coffee cake looks delicious. I had to give up my typewritter a couple of years ago because I could no longer find the ink. That one is really nice. I am playing Christmas carols now and watched The Bishop’s Wife one more time last night. I am trying to stretch it a bit longer. Usually when the gifts are opened and the tree empty underneath it is done for me but this year I want a little more.
Have a lovely day,
Sue
Through high school, college, and even my first couple of jobs, the sharp sounds of that IBM selectric was constant! I love that sound, so familiar and soothing.
Claudia, the photo of your Remington brings back memories. I learned to type on one of those. I felt like I was in heaven when I finally got an IBM Selectric. That is until I went to work in a federal minister’s office and whenever I typed a letter for the minister’s signature, it had to be perfect. We were not allowed to use the correction tape. So, that was pretty hard to do. Sometimes, we would get to the last paragraph and we would make a mistake. So, the whole letter had to be redone until we succeeded in making it error free. I say we because I’m including the other secretaries. Rather nerve wrecking that was! It’s always harder not to make a mistake when you’re really not supposed to make one. So I take my hat off to computers any day.
However, I’m happy that Don is enjoying his vintage new toy. Perhaps the rhythm of the machine is a source of inspiration for him as he composes. I know that when I compose with a pen, I like certain pens because of the noise they make on the paper. It somehow inspires me. It sounds strange, right? But when I do creative writing, I need that.
Your cake looks so delicious except that my choice of topping would be a dab of frozen vanilla yogurt.
I love that fireplace channel. They had it where I was on Christmas Eve. I was so amazed because I did not even know such a channel existed until then. I don’t have that cable package.
I must say that Scoutie’s nose looks so kissable. Both pets look very happy as they behold their treat! Comfortable looking pjs, by the way.
Claudia, I’m glad that all the hustle and bustle is over. I love Boxing Day. To me, it’s a day of relaxation. By the way, I love your mother’s kerchief. It made me look back to a time when I and all my girlfriends used to wear them.
Glad you had a nice day yesterday. Hope you get your IBM Selectric one day since you seem to like them so much. I’ll settle for a new printer.
Um, Christmas is not over.
It’s the Christmas season until January 6 when it’s Epiphany and when some households exchange presents.
So — I say keep playing that Christmas music, warble the “12 Days of Christmas” … the party actually continues for two weeks!
I love the two. I like the old and use the new. It is good to move forward but never forget the past! I am glad the pups had a good Christmas! My girls got 2 sets of peanut butter treats from some very sweet people. Nice to work with animal people:)
Hugs, Lisa
Ohhhhh, the memories!
Happy New Year
TTFN ~
Hugs,
Marydon
From the looks of things, it was a great Christmas. Your coffee cake looks delish! I love the PJ’s your sporting ;)
xxx Liz
Claudia, the cake is looking mighty festive and good. You look cozy in those jammies too. We carried on with our family traditions and added some new ones as well. One of the shop keepers I am associated with gave Joe a vintage type writer that I must post about. It is fabulous Don enjoys his so much. Olive
Claudia, Glad to hear you enjoyed your christmas. Dancing, that sounds so lovely. It’s rare that I can get my husband to dance. I remember those IBM selectrics. One of my co-workers still has one in her office. Love the typewriter that you god for Don.
Scout looks happy and love the red bow. You’ll get your fireplace one day! I know what you mean about being a little sad afer christmas. It’s kind of a let down after all the build-up of decorating, music, shopping and holiday gatherings. My Christmas goes until New Years. So I’m still playing holiday music.
Enjoy the rest of the holiday season.
~Sandy
The big smile on Scoutie’s face is shear happiness! I am feeling a bit sad too. So much build up for months and suddenly it’s over. I was just thinking last night that I love the glow of the little Christmas lights scattered around the cottage. Maybe I should keep the lights all year. To compensate for my let down, I have started pinning Valentine’s Day decorations. Glad to know I am not alone!
Big Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
PS: That coffee cake sure looks good!
Hi Claudia! Merry Christmas a little late! (“late’s” my middle name these days!lol)
Love the typewriter, and the iphone!
Hope your News Years is extra special!
hugs,
paula:)