Thanks for all the wonderful comments about Sears (and other beloved stores) and for sharing your memories. I shop online, yes, but sparingly. I rarely buy clothes online, as I want to try them on. I prefer to hold a book in my hand before I choose it. And I’ll be the first to say that mall shopping makes me tired and cranky, and my eyes hurt from the lights, and the sheer amount of territory to cover is too much. I miss the days when you could walk into a department store that wasn’t connected to a mall. But those days are gone.
My cousin left a comment as to the Sears Modern Homes that were sold as a kit. She thinks our family cottage was a Sears home. Interestingly, I had just had that same thought right before I read her comment. I know that my grandfather and his sons built the cottage themselves – I’ve seen photos of them building it. I wish we could ask my dad or my aunt about the kit they used. That comment from Eileen led me to look at all the different house models that Sears sold and I think I found one that might have been the model for the cottage Not sure yet, but it was so much fun to look at all the designs.
It’s that time of year again. My parents’ 40+ year old sansevieria is blooming again. There are five of these flower stalks nestled among the plant spikes.
The scent is heavenly.
Hey, Mom and Dad. Thank you.
My decluttering mojo has been missing for the past week or two, but it’s back. I’m going to start tackling the closet in our office today. Wish me luck!
We’ve been watching screeners of movies and television series that are nominees for the SAG Awards. So far, we’ve watched The Wife, Vice, The Favourite, BlackkKlansman, and Beautiful Boy. Tonight, we’re watching Can You Ever Forgive Me? We received a copy of Black Panther, as well, but we’ve seen that twice. I’ll refrain from commenting in case you haven’t seen these movies and plan to, but I will say that my favorites so far are The Favourite and Beautiful Boy. Though I liked certain aspects of each film, including some wonderful performances, there were serious flaws that keep me from giving them a rave.
We’re grateful to have the opportunity to watch them this early in the game. Normally, we’d wait until they hit the small screen.
Okay. Have to get a move on!
Happy Monday.
a 40-year-old plant?!? i am impressed (and was before for other reasons)!
and how nice to be able to get close to finding the sears kit for the home in which you grew up! hope you find the exact one!
glad you can enjoy those movies in the comfort of your own sweet home! i haven’t seen any of them … nor heard of a couple (out of it … ha).
good luck with the decluttering. still doing that at my place, too (don’t have a lot of elbow room, nor do i feel ruthless … so it is taking a long time). whoo wee!
happy monday, everyone.
kathy in iowa
It was my parents – they had it for years. Thanks, Kathy.
The plant is such a gift from you parents. Nice to see it bloom. I only watch movies on the small screen since I can’t really afford the movies theater and would rather watch at home in my comfy clothes anyway. Ha! Beautiful Boy is on Prime so I’ll be watching it soon.
My next decluttering spaces are my clothes closet and my craft room. One is easy (my closet as I purge often) but the craft room is a BIG job. I can do this!
Movies are too expensive! And we’d rather watch at home, too!
I haven’t seen many of those you mention but I will say the others will have to go far to top The Favourite with female actors and production/costume design. (Although I REALLY hated the graphic design of the credits — thank goodness for IMDB…)
Your 40-year old plant is most impressive. I have trouble keeping things going from the time they come in the house in the fall till I can get what’s left of the carcass back out in the spring, should I be so lucky that it made it so far!
The credits were terrible! As was the closing music. We had to stop watching!
I enjoy your movie and book recommendations.
Thanks, Kay!
I have a nice sansevieria that my husband bought for me. I hope I don’t have to wait 40 years for it to bloom, I would love to see that in person.
I don’t know if it bloomed for my parents but it’s been blooming ever since I brought it back from Florida.
Hello Claudia,
I’ve really enjoyed reading all the nostalgic comments from your American readers about Sears department stores. I had no idea that for over a hundred years, people have been able to mail order an entire house building kit and what lovely houses they are too! It’s such a shame that so many department stores are closing and it’s happening over here in Britain as well. Recently it looked likely that House of Fraser were going to close their iconic store in my nearby city of Manchester but an investor has stepped in at the last minute to save this wonderful 1930s Art Deco building.
I saw The Favourite at the weekend. My friend and I always want to know where historical film locations are especially if we think we might recognise them if filmed in Britain. Unfortunately, we couldn’t stay to see all the credits as people were putting their coats on and trying to get past us! We agreed it’s so annoying that the majority of folk don’t stay for the credits – it’s insulting to everyone who has worked on the film!
We knew Queen Anne had resided at Kensington Palace but I didn’t feel it was filmed there. My friend said she thought it was Hampton Court and she was right! (According to Google)
What did you think of Emma Stone’s English accent? We were impressed.
Dee Dee x
To clarify: I’m not sure when Sears stopped selling house kits, but I think it was in the 40s. But those houses are all over the country, Dee Dee, and there are groups of people who love to seek them out. They’re so charming!
The credits were impossible to read, Dee Dee. Really poorly done! So you didn’t miss anything.
So it was Hampton Court? Thanks for letting us know!
I thought Emma Stone did very well. I caught a couple of questionable sounds, but I think that’s me being overly picky. She was good!
I haven’t shopped at a mall in years. I avoid them whenever possible. As a Highly Sensitive Person, I can’t take the crowds, blaring music and bright lights. Last time I was in a mall, I almost had a panic attack. When I was a teenager, it was a totally different story. I buy things online, but never clothes. Like you, I have to try them on first. I don’t buy many new clothes but when I do, I hit stand alone stores such as Kohls, TJ Maxx, Old Navy and Burlington.
Your parent’s snake plant is beautiful. I don’t know how old mine is (I inherited it from a neighbor-friend who was moving) but it has never bloomed. I wonder what your plant’s secret is?
I don’t watch much TV or many movies, but I do like a good one when I’m in the mood. I’ll look up your recommendations – thank you.
I don’t know what the secret is. I’d love to know if it bloomed for Mom and Dad.
I feel the same way you do about shopping, and the lights hurt my eyes too. I usually only buy new clothes every couple of years now. I don’t feel the need to keep up with all of the newest styles the way I used to. xo Laura
Yes, and the lights tire me out, too! I basically wear jeans and sweaters or t-shirts anyway!
I don’t know if I can wait another 30 years for my sanseviera to bloom! We just saw Vice this past weekend. That was the first time in my life I left a movie feeling anger….that’s all I’ll say about that. But, it was a well acted movie. You are so fortunate you get to see all those movies…The Favourite is next on our list.
I’m no longer a mall shopper either. I just don’t care for most of the stores in a traditional mall. There is an outdoor mall that has some great stores…give me fresh air anytime. Good luck with the closet! ;)
My anger flared when I realized how we were cheated in every way – the Supreme Court intervening in the Florida vote count, the millions of lives lost because of a war based on a lie. I’ve always found Cheney reprehensible.
That being said, Christian Bale was spot on in his portrayal of Cheney!
He was excellent…couldn’t believe his transformation! ;)
Amazing!
I hardly shop for clothes now, as I’m not a trendy person and feel comfortable in my jeans, sweaters, and turtlenecks (fleece for this time of year). Also, I have amassed quite a bit of fabric to sew my own shirts and tops. I recently ordered a pair of boots by mail order (I was too lazy to go to their brick and mortar in town, and it was free shipping), but I bought my original pair at the store, so I knew the fit was perfect. I’m glad to have found a pair of short boots, which are so comfortable I went on a two-week trip to Japan with them and no other footwear.
Your 40-year old plant is amazing, Claudia. You obviously take exceptional care of it.
I take care of it, but the reason it’s so healthy today is entirely due to my parents’ nurturing of the plant over the 37 years that they had it.
That plant is amazing. I love to buy books in a book store but unfortunately there are no book stores near my home. I do not have a car to travel to one so I have no choice but to order on line for all my books. I did receive a lot of books for Christmas so I will not be ordering any soon.
Marilyn
Are you that far from Manhattan, Marilyn?
Oh how I would love to have a snake plant that blooms!
This one is so beautiful! The flowers really open at night and fill the house with fragrance.
I am sad about Sears, too, especially after a report I saw, I think on CBS Sunday morning, about how the store failed due to poor management. We had all Kenmore appliances in our home and they worked their butts off for us, 4 kids who played outside a lot, 2 dogs, various cats, chicken pox, diapers, etc. I don’t remember a repair person ever coming. The store was a few towns over, old and sort of musty smelling, but had an escalator!!! which was pretty fab. They. had a section of clothes for chubbies (I forget what it was called). We didn’t go often, but it was a maze of fascinating objects. It seemed like everything in the world that you wanted, was there on display, even stuff you never thought of. And of course the Christmas catalogue…oh the hours and hours dreaming, circling, changing our minds. And often as not, the treasures appeared before us on Christmas Day. We also used the everyday calendars to cut out paper dolls and make doll houses by cut and paste method on cardboard. Cheap, fun, and hours of entertainment. Sears was a backbone of the American story, a heritage company, like the Pony Express, or the Railroad. It brought the world to our parents and grandparents and to us as well. Very sad. On a side note, I have some personal sad news. The piano movers informed us that my aunt’s piano will not fit up the stairs into my lair. There is no room downstairs for a second piano. It breaks my heart to know my niece and nephew will have no choice but to junk it. I learned that the case has been scratched and damaged badly so whatever sale value it had, which wasn’t much, is virtually nothing. These instruments have a lifespan and according to what I’ve been reading, it is getting harder and harder to find ones with any life left in them. People want digital instruments because they never have to be tuned. Gah!!! No personality, no individual voice. Even if the old pianos are rebuilt, they don’t sound the same because original materials are no longer available. I thought Namie’s piano was eternal, but she has already outlived her average life span. If I can keep her going thru one or two more tunes (she still holds a tune very well), that will hopefully last for my lifetime. Sorry for the long disquisition. Sears and pianos are apparently trigger objects for memories and nostalgia. Hope you and your darling Chickering are enjoying becoming reacquainted.
You already have a piano, right? Isn’t that the one you were going to have rebuilt? Are you thinking of not doing that now? I thought your aunt’s piano was in addition to yours, or am I wrong?
So sorry you can’t get it up the stairs!
Yes, you remember correctly. I didn’t mean to sound hopeless, and I am still planning to get my grandmother’s piano seen to. Right now it’s in the living room where my husband watches his morning news, his afternoon judge shows, and his whenever college basketball/Patriots football, and the nightly news. LOL. It’s hard to find a coordinating time to play. I thought upstairs would give me a bigger window so to speak. But I will not be without music. Thanks for paying attention to my wins and woes. When you feel comfortable, I’m sure many of us wold love to hear the sound of you and your Chickering. No concert needed, just a little melody to get a taste of her voice. :-)
Yes. Awfully hard when the television is in use for so much of the day! You two might have to make up a schedule for the living room.