Good morning. We had big old thunderstorms last night, with lots of lightning and cracks of thunder. I awoke to no internet this morning, which had me a wee bit worried. It was soon back on, however, so all is well. It’s a little worrisome that my first reaction upon failing to connect to the internet is “What will I do?”
Uh….Claudia? The same thing you did for all those years pre-laptop and internet. Read a book. Slowly sip your coffee. Thumb through a magazine. Meditate. Do a crossword puzzle. Somehow I managed to fill my time for, ahem, decades without automatically checking my email or surfing the web.
The other day I saw a commercial for Angie’s List where a woman was talking about the rescue dog she adopted and how she found all sorts of references for reliable Vets, groomers, etc., through that site. The rescue dog’s name was Riley. I was immediately in tears. I cried again yesterday, just thinking about the commercial. I miss my boy.
I thought I’d share a few interesting links for you today. I routinely bookmark all sorts of things that strike my fancy, then I promptly forget about them. Yesterday, I was cleaning out and deleting some of those bookmarks and I found a few that might be of interest to you.
• This piece, written by Tom Hanks for the New York Times: an ode to the typewriter. He loves them, collects them and I found myself smiling as I read it. I bought Don a vintage typewriter a couple of Christmases ago and, though it’s not the same vintage that Mr. Hanks raves about, I dream of owning an IBM Selectric. I typed on many of those in my temping days and there is nothing like the sharp rat-a-tat-tat sound that happens upon touching the keys. It’s on my wish list.
• These sheds, called Studio Sheds, that I think are so nifty. I’d love to have one. It could be a retreat or a studio or an addition. I love the modern design and they seem relatively affordable if you have some extra cash. Which I don’t.
• This great tutorial on the Simple Details blog for creating a concrete garden sphere. I want to do this next year.
• This armchair. I want it. It would be a beautiful replacement for my blogging chair, which, under it’s ratty slipcover, is not only quite old, but is slowly falling apart. Maybe this will go on sale some day? I keep clicking on the site and hoping.
• And finally, this interview with one of my favorites: Joni Mitchell. Oh Joni, you are amazing. (I saw her in concert in an outdoor venue on the night that Richard Nixon resigned. She announced it from the stage. I’ll never forget it.)
There you go. Enjoy.
Happy Sunday.
Good Morning Claudia and thanks for the links. Our son is an aspiring writer and a couple of years ago his girlfriend gave him an antique typewriter. It is gorgeous! Love the armchair (though, have to say we have bought furniture from Pier 1 and been very disappointed in the quality and durability. The garden spheres look like fun and fairly easy. Lastly Joni, ahhhhhh such a voice. Still listen to her music a lot. Meanwhile we are excited today as our son, who has been teaching English for the past year in Korea, is on his way home! Woo-hoo!! He lands this evening and I am already anxious to get down to the airport. Instead I’ll grocery shop and put fresh sheets on his bed. Hope you are having a wonderful Sunday!
PS Started “The Beautiful Mystery” this a.m. So far am really enjoying it — I really like the way Louise Penny writes.
Well, that’s disappointing news about Pier One.
So happy your son is coming home tonight!
Joni Mitchell is also one of my favorites! Thanks for the links. Have a great day, Claudia!
You’re welcome, Paula.
Morning Claudia-
we’re getting ready to drive 1 1/2 hrs. for a family reunion. Having some coffee before we hit the road.
I love these little posts when you share what you see around the internet.
The chair looks so comfy. I hope you’re able to get one some day. The studio shed …ah! a dream of my own too. :)
I’ll have to come back later and read the Tom Hanks article.
But wanted to say thank you for sharing your experience with Joni Mitchell and the memorable event… I love hearing about that time /era… it was such an important part of history, I was very young then and like a child unaware of the important history being made. But I do remember Nixon resigning… and I do remember some of Joni’s music… You just don’t think of them overlapping, sometimes.
Have a great day. Hope you get to see Scout and Don soon.
Pat
Cross your fingers…maybe tomorrow! Have a wonderful time at your reunion.
Good morning Claudia,
I love the chair. Here is the chair of my dreams..http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Portfolio-Mira-8-way-Hand-tied-Paisley-Arm-Chair-and-Ottoman/3348501/product.html,”
Someday maybe.
I love the studio shed, Ah to dream. right? What would life be like without dreams?
I am sorry about Riley. I lost my boys 3 years ago. They were brothers I have had many cats, but none have touched my heart they way those 2 did. I wish I knew the words to console you, but I don’t. All I can say is that I understand.
I went and looked. That’s a gorgeous chair, Trudy! And thank you for understanding about Riley, Trudy.
My sweet, little William (Brussels Griffon) died from Cushings a few months prior to Riley. Claudia, I had to stop following your blog for awhile, it was too painful to watch your struggles (loving struggles, I know) with Riley. I couldn’t speak of William for ONE YEAR without breaking down and SOBBING!
He died in my lap on the way to the vet. A first for me and I will never forget it. We’ve had dogs put down in the past but it is nothing like holding a dying dog and watching him pass away in your arms. He was a trooper right to the very end.
I still cry. It’s been nearly a year and a half and honestly, I don’t think the pain will ever be gone completely. My sweet, little William…
On a happier note…loved your links.
We need to replace the chairs in our den/library. I seem to be on a never-ending mission in search of *something* decent and inexpensive. Hugs to you, Scout and Riley’s spirit! xox
Thank you Kellianne. I completely understand why you had to stop reading this blog for a while. I would have done the same thing in your place. Bless sweet William – he’s always with you. xo
Good morning Claudia. I hope the week-end is going well. I was in hopes that you would be able to spend some time with your “guys”. I love the “sheds”. My dream is an Airstream for the same idea, I don’t know what my neighbors would think. One blogger uses hers for a mobile shop. How awesome. I grew up close to the Airstream factory. My mother was a seamstress for them and my brother was the personal manager.
The chair is pretty and comfy looking. We had a dinette set from Pier One and it didn’t hold up . Not sure how the stuffed chairs would be.
I have to laugh at the concrete spheres. My grandkids would use them as bowling balls for sure.
Have a good day. (((((HUGS)))))
I love airstreams, Debby! How neat that your family was employed by the factory. I’d take an Airstream any day! Have a wonderful day.
Thanks for the links…Tom Hanks’ is quite good…I like his style. Have you sat in that chair yet? It certainly looks comfortable, but you never know. I have my mother’s old Royal manual….still works great! Needs a new ribbon though. I also love Selectrics, they have a coolness factor to them, that only people of a certain age would appreciate! On that note, I tend to freak out when the Internet is down myself…and I shouldn’t, especially since I’ve only been on the computer since 2010 when the first iPad came out, go figure? Have a good one! ;)
I haven’t sat in the chair. I might be in a for a big surprise when I test it!
Isn’t if funny how attached we are to our computers and the internet now? Wow..how nice are those Studio Sheds? Just the kind of extra room I need here..I have seen the concrete spheres online before and I would also like to try making them..the chair looks very pretty and comfy but I noticed that a couple ladies who commented said P1’s furniture doesn’t hold up well so I would check closer before buying..Have a great Sunday Claudia!!
I will check closer, Nancy. But frankly, I don’t see me having the funds to validate the purchase – there are other more pressing things that have to be taken care of!
Thank you so much for including my garden spheres in your links today, Claudia! I’m a big dog lover, we have a Golden, I can’t even imagine her not around, and how heartbreaking it is without your Riley. I love the picture on your sidebar!
My pleasure, Pam! I really loved what you did and I so appreciate your tutorial. xo
I read the Tom Hanks piece and thoroughly enjoyed it! Thank you for including it in your links, Claudia~
You are very welcome, Susan!
Thanks for all the links, Claudia. We had terrible storms all day yesterday and last night. Our lights flickered a few time, but no outages. I was amazed. xo Laura
Glad you still had power, Laura. It’s pretty humid here today!
Sad to say but I am always panicked when my Internet goes down:(
Me too!
Good afternoon. Claudia! I walked away from not one, not two, but three typewriters in an antique shop on Friday. (I’d like to know where Tom Hanks gets functioning ones for $50.) I was, and am, seriously tempted. One was a typewriter locked up in its case, so I couldn’t tell you what it was, but probably circa 1960’s/70’s. One looked like it could be in full working order, A Corona from the 1940’s-ish. The third was an Underwood. A rusted into stillness Underwood. Beautiful machine. I so wanted to rescue it, clean it, oil it, put in a new ribbon and see what could be done with it. But I had my ever practical husband with me and so I walked away. *sigh*
Oh, darn it, Leanne! Too bad you couldn’t rescue that beautiful Underwood!
I do like the slow and moody version of “Both Sides Now”; it has the depth of emotion that comes from a woman who has a few more years on her than the original recording. I had actually considered sending you the link to Joni Mitchel’s interview with CBC’s Jian Ghomeshi; he does some wonderful interviews. Did you catch the one, a few years back, with Leonard Cohen?
-Karen
Happy September 1st Claudia. Love the chair (and the matching ottoman) but not the price. I just ordered a new couch last week and I do need a chair but it’ll be a while before I can afford that.
Take care, J
I learned how to type on a manual and then in high school when I “moved up” to Typing II with the IBM Selectrics, I thought those were just the coolest things. Then I typed on them for many years in various offices. I actually had one in my garage for years – can’t even remember where I got it – and eventually just donated it. I got an old manual from my FIL a couple of weeks ago, but it needs cleaning up. That armchair from Pier 1 is really pretty and looks so comfy.
Oh, Claudia – I saw the “Angie’s List” commercial and thought of you the moment I heard “Riley.” And I know just how you feel – I miss ALL my lost pets so much too. I could easily cry right now for my Duchess & she passed when I was 16 [I’m now 57]. She was my parents’ first baby. I came along a few months later and my mom always talked about how Duchess, still really a puppy at the time, went into “protector” mode and would lie under my baby carriage and not budge AN INCH, on those nice summer days when Mom could put me outside for some air. Remember when moms could do that sort of thing without fear? Anyway, thanks for the great links and SO GLAD you’re getting to have a few days with Don and your girl – I know you’ll be loving it….
Hi Claudia, I love these posts when you show us places to go to see wonderful ideas and articles. I was in Maine this weekend and found a HUGE warehouse of antiques, and one entire room was filled with typewriters of all eras. We had so much fun touching them and looking at the changes. We actually saved some of our college era electrics for our kids to explore with and they had so much fun with them when they were little. It is difficult to get some of the ink cartridges now. I’m trying not to think about old dogs now as I snuggle up to my 12 1/2 year old brown furry girl. My thoughts are with you and I do understand your love and loss. Linda