• Inspired by this book,
which is a wonderful series of “Portraits of the lives & homes of eccentric, eclectic & free-spirited bohemians,” I took some shots of the den this morning, not doing anything to brighten the photos, to make it look sunnier than it is. The den is always a bit moody, surrounded on two sides by our covered porch which keeps it in shadow much of the day. Since we take two steps down into the den, all of this works to make it a cozy, sunken retreat.
There are stacks of books on the coffee table, on the floor in front of the china cabinet, on the table to my left and on the bookshelves.
This is the room in our home that seems the most cozy-British-cottage in atmosphere and appearance. The sofa is old and slip-covered, there are books and reading lamps, there are piles of throws in a basket, an old wicker ottoman. There’s china and pottery, the dollhouse sits in a corner and then there’s the television, as well.
It’s always been a difficult space to capture in a photograph, for not only is it somewhat dark and moody, there are windows on three of the walls. Rather than getting frustrated, I’ve decided to embrace it and go for highlight and shadow. As is.
• I’m still under the weather and I’m getting restless. I don’t like sitting still for very long. Lots of nose blowing and coughing. I blame Don for this, though he says it’s been too long since he was sick to blame it on him. But I came down with it last Friday and that was less than a week since I had left Chicago.
It’s your fault, Don.
• Yesterday, we woke up to all four pilot lights out on Stella . We didn’t know if something was wrong with her, or with the connection to the propane, or if we’d run out.
We ended up being out of propane, which was rather shocking because we thought it would last longer than it did. But Stella is a big girl and Gino, our oil and propane guy, said that some of his clients who have bigger stoves that are hooked up to propane, like, for example, Vikings, go through a lot of it surprisingly quickly. So now we’ll make an adjustment in our propane delivery. Learning curve. We did have them check again to make sure there are no leaks and there are none.
• If you’ve been reading the blog lately and thinking: “Oh good! There are no more ads on the blog!” let me assure you, there are – now. I was in contact with BlogHer yesterday because of something else and I discovered that I had no ad income for the past two months…what?? And then, when I investigated further, I realized I couldn’t see any ads on my blog. Back story: I am usually on what is called the back end of the blog, writing posts, answering comments, etc., and I don’t always look at the front end – the page you see. And sometimes, during the course of the day, I have an ad blocker on for some sites I visit. Also, since we’re feeling less financially insecure lately, I haven’t been monitoring my monthly income on BlogHer. I’ve seen the monthly deposit go into my checking account and have been happy with the amount.
Anyway, it’s all been resolved. The ads are back. I’m going to be better at checking on things. BlogHer was great about it. There might be a day when I no longer have them, but for now, they help pay for the costs of maintaining this blog.
• Every day I discover something else that we wouldn’t be able to deduct on our income taxes with this horrific bill. Today it was Don’s union dues. Which begs the question, would I be able to deduct the expenses of maintaining my blog to balance out ad income? I wonder. I already know I won’t be able to deduct some expenses that go with being on the road. This will be very tough on us because we are freelancers.
Keep making your calls. I called (with a croaking voice) my Representative yesterday, and I emailed him twice. And I’ll keep bugging the crap out of him because this bill will be very hard on New Yorkers, who already pay a lot in property taxes and, of course, they want to keep that from being a deduction, as well. In other words, anything and everything that helps us get by, they want to take away.
Don’t get me started on what this vile man is doing to national treasures in Utah. They belong to us, by the way. So when I read words like this from Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke – The land is being returned to the people! – I cry foul. It already is ours. What he wants to do is drill and frack and let corporations make money off of it and take away sacred sites that belong to us and that have deep and powerful meaning to Native Americans.
Please Mueller, do your thing, but do it quickly.
Happy Wednesday.
Yours is the perfect room to cozy up with a good book.
All I want for Christmas is a bigly indictment.
Me too!
By the way, I visited with my sister this weekend about Lankford and unions. He had NOT been cooperative at all. Don’s union dues reminded me of this.
Yes please hurry Mueller.
I love ur cottage! We have similar decorating tastes. After 45 years, I still call my furnishings “early marriage”. Have a good day!
Thank you, Becky! You, too!
love the coziness of your home. thanks, as always, for sharing.
opposite of love for our so-called “leader”. don’t like to think about where he and other politicians are trying to lead us so must take action! thanks for making those calls and setting a good example.
hope you feel better and don stays healthy, too.
kathy in iowa
We can’t let ourselves become indifferent to the atrocities that seem to come on a daily basis.
Thanks, Kathy!
Lovely cozy room. Everyone needs a place where their stuff can just “be.” Feel better soon!
Thank you, Kay!
Sorry you are so sick. It’s never fun!! But I thank you for reminding me with this blog post that I need to go get my flu shot today! Keeps the bugs away Oh, and I LOVE your cozy room, and every home should have one. xo Get well soon!!
Glad I reminded you. But this is a cold, not flu! Thanks so much, Diane!
My grandmother believed that it was books that made a home, not fancy furnishings, etc. I try and follow that decorating theory myself! There is nothing like bookshelves and tables covered with books, I think.
I too am self-employed and going through a divorce…I cannot even imagine what my taxes are going to look like next year. Every day it is something else with Trump, though. Monuments; Jerusalem; Roy Moore. I know I overuse this word but it is simply disgraceful.
Books, absolutely. If I go into a home where there aren’t any books, it’s immediately suspect!
Hang in there, Elle. And I don’t think it’s possible to overuse that word in this context!
Your cottage is a perfect respite and refuge to plan and execute the good fight. Get well soon, Claudia.
Thank you, Wendy!
I love to ‘decorate’ with books and pottery. Your cozy den is so nice. I miss having a lot of windows even if they don’t bring in tons of light. I’ll just have to make do for now!! I bought Mom and I a Rosemary tree at Trader’s Joe’s…smells heavenly!
I bet it does!
Love your cozy room. I’m currently disturbing mine…need to make room for a futon for London son and wife for Christmas visit. Deciding what to keep, what to store, what to give away is tiring. But…the books stay and the memories…everything else is up for grabs. That looks like an interesting book…can you tell us a little bit about it?
Mueller, can’t work fast enough as far as I’m concerned. #45 seems to be off on a couple tangents…public lands, Israel. I crave sanity in the WH! I’m hoping for a big fat indictment for Christmas! Wouldn’t that be sweet? ;)
There’s really nothing I could say that’s more descriptive than the subtitle, which I referenced in the post. That’s exactly what the book is.
An indictment for Christmas would be the best present ever!
Ah yes! to cosiness and books to make a room feel welcoming and like home:)
Yes, indeed!
It is really too bad that you don’t own a golf course, Claudia. I hear the tax benefits will now be better than ever imagined! I also read that he told Pence last year that it was disgraceful that he was bringing their pets to DC with them to live in the VP residence. One more reason to disrespect an idiot.
We have had some incredible winds here and I am quite over it and ready for some calm. Both in the weather and in this country. I have never understood people who live and thrive in chaos. The drama is way too much for me. It is no wonder why we are all so exhausted all of the time with this regime chugging away day after day.
Have a good Wednesday and hope you feel better soon!
I’ve always found the fact the Trump has never had a pet quite telling. He’d have to think about some other being’s needs and he is incapable of that.
I agree, every single time I hear about something he is doing “for the people” on closer examination it is for himself, his wealthy donors, corporations or big business. Not me, not us, not average Americans. Those wearing their blinders need to take a hard look at that man and his true agenda.
But will they?
I would love to have a den like yours…so warm and cozy…I feel so bad for Native Americans…first he publicly insults them and then takes away their sacred lands!…I read yesterday that five tribes have joined together to sue him…once again they must do battle against the white man…shameful…
Good. I hope the suit takes place in a court that doesn’t have a Trump-appointed judge.
that third picture just gathers me in. I could curl up in that corner for hours reading a good book drinking something warm and comforting.
I too only want an indictment.
I have called and written.
in the past I have written so many times as a matter of fact that ‘they’ started responding to me by my first name. and always to no avail of course.
it was a response yes. but in the form of a ‘slap on my hand.’
they (in my totally red state) are not remotely interested in what I think or might justifiably want. their minds are thoroughly made up.
and when it comes time to cast my vote for anything I know the outcome.
I always vote anyway. knowing full well that all around me in line are going to cancel out many times over how I select. it is what it is. and it is RED.
it brings to mind the old Bertrand Russell quote that I love.
” the secret to happiness is realizing that the world is horrible horrible horrible!” :)
but you and don and your ‘moody’ room are wonderful. I hope you feel better soon.
It sure is horrible, horrible, horrible right now. Sigh.
Such a cozy and lovely room to cocoon in on cold winter days. We have a room like it too, and I spend a lot of time there once winter sets in and gardening days are done.
I hope you feel better quickly, Claudia.
And the indictment of Trump would definitely be the best Christmas present ever!
I told Don I would dance naked in the streets!
I don’t know if you are watching the news…….. what in the world is going on? /where does this even come from? How is this happening to our country. He is truly out of his mind, and someone needs to step in on OUR behalf. Where do these dictates he comes up with even come from? Can’t they stick him in a closet with his paste and crayons? He is not only a danger to our country, but to our world and our planet. Sorry for the 2x comment today. Just saw what was happening…..
I’m not watching, but I assume you’re talking about the speech about moving the capital to Jerusalem? It’s insane. And I heard he was slurring his words.
I love your cozy room. I would feel right at home there. I make phone calls on an almost daily basis and have been doing so for the better part of a year. Every morning I wake up and think what fresh hell is there today, and unfortunately there is always more. I say a daily prayer to hurry Mueller along and to keep him safe. Feel better. xo Laura
Yes, to hurry and be safe!
Dear Claudia,
I hope you are soon all the way on the mend.
You have got to be tired of that virus.
I am reaching out to our lawmakers but actually it is distressing down this way. I truly believe this administration and Repubs are interested in making this a 2 class society only. Instead of the way Hitler did it, they will do it economically. I hope I am wrong.
If I lived close we could say our good “bad” words in conversation because sometimes they are much better being said in comfortable company.
I never imagined conservatives could sink this low; I knew they would be low but this in beyond the pale. Effing A-holes.
Grassley made me want to puke with his ignorant remarks. They are all corrupt and calculating for sure.
I am on medicare; I can not imagine what people in stark poverty will do for healthcare when their families are as poor as they are. I do have some family in an emergency. Obama was right; you first have to have boots in order to pull up your boot straps..to paraphrase what he said. Besides that; we earned our Soc Sec and medicare as you pointed out. OK I am gonna walk in the woods for a while~~ and yes, Trump is crazy in a true clinical sense.
Get well dear gal.!
Katheryn
If they try taking it they are committing political suicide because everyone – Republican and Democrat – wants their Social Security and Medicare. This is where their arrogance is out of control. Ryan has always been that way. Tries to paint himself as a political wonk when he’s really not very smart.
My doctor always tells me that there are two places that colds come from: doctors’ offices and airplanes. Yours is probably the airplane type. Feel better soon.
I love your rooms. I love to vicariously enjoy the homes I would love to have for myself. Mine is pretty good, and I love to spend a day in my sewing room, though not often lately. I think tweaking is my favorite decorating activity. My mother said, “it is not what you have, it is how you arrange it”. The only nice thing she ever said. Trump reminds me of people I know who are narcissistic and always wanting to hurt other people. It makes them feel worthy. He will destroy the country and smile because he just wants to have people think he is powerful and great.