• We finally got around to celebrating Don’s birthday – a month after the fact. To be fair, I kept asking him when he wanted to celebrate and finally took matters into my own hands.
Where did we go?
Cracker Barrel. We rarely go there and we both love eating breakfast out and, let’s face it, Cracker Barrel has those darned delicious biscuits and grits and eggs and cheesy hash browns. Oh, lordy, we ate too much, but boy, was it good! Don opened his presents and a good time was had by all.
Scout had better things to do. She was home sleeping.
• We’re headed into a 10 day stretch in which 7 of those days will have temperatures above 90 degrees. Ask me how excited about that I am. Go ahead. Ask me.
Aw, don’t bother. You already know the answer.
• The zinnias are blooming, but I clearly didn’t plant the large ones of summers past. I don’t know why that happened. It’s disappointing for Don, who loves the big zinnias. A fail on my part. They’re very pretty. Just petite.
• This morning I started to scan the news sites and I simply had to stop. Too depressing. Some days, like this one, become No News days in order to preserve my mental health.
• I never order from Decor Steals, though I love many of the great deals they offer. We’re on a budget and this house is full up, thank you. But I saw a daily deal while I was in Chautauqua that made me think twice. And three times. So I ordered it. The item was very inexpensive and would, I thought, add a little practical fun to our cottage.
It’s this two sided clock. First of all, the color is perfect for our home. I love the graphics, with London/1984/The New Era printed on the clock face. Did I ever tell you I was in a production of 1984 (in 1986) that was a big hit in Philadelphia and went on to a run at the Kennedy Center?
I digress.
Isn’t this cool? Don loves it. So do I.
I spent some time on Saturday drilling holes, cursing, drilling some more holes, and finally getting it in place.
One side.
The other side.
Don was recording an album all day Saturday. He and his pal, Dan, recorded 11 songs for a live album – more details will be forthcoming – and then he had a gig after that, so I didn’t see him all day. I also didn’t tell him I’d hung the clock, so he was surprised and a wee bit delighted when he saw it.
It makes us smile.
• I’m pleased that you liked the miniature source list I posted yesterday. I’ve already added more links, and will continue adding them as time goes on. I’ll also post a link to the original post that will live permanently under the Dollhouse tab in the navigation bar. That way, it will be easily accessible for all of you mini/dollhouse fans.
New post up on Just Let Me Finish This Page.
Happy Monday.
Just love the clock. Fits in perfectly. Good job hanging it. Thanks for creating a list for the miniatures. Have a great day!
hugs
You’re very welcome, Nancy! Thanks for stopping by!
Looooove the clock! Looks perfect where you hung it. Love the miniature links also. I’ll be lost in those for weeks! That was how I found your blog, by your dollhouse. Wanted to show you what I’d recently done to the front porch of my house but can’t figure out how to add a photo. I hung sheer curtains in one corner. Would love your advice on how to get it more “shabby chic” looking. I contacted a lady about making cushions with pink roses and green leaves on white but haven’t heard back from her yet. I have OCD and tend to be matchy matchy and love that you aren’t and it always looks wonderful.
Send me the photo in an email, Cheryl – the link for email is at the top of my sidebar. I’d love to see it!
I find the news just too depressing quite often lately. The clock looks like it was meant to be in your cottage. We are facing some 90 degree weather in Michigan this week too. I don’t know how I survived before we had a/c.
Me either, Marilyn. I remember being miserable when I was a kid because we had no air conditioning. I would lay on my bed in front of the fan, trying not to move.
I’m heading into a stretch of mid to high 80’s, so not too bad compared to what you will be hit with. Sorry….. Fortunately, the back of my house faces east so it never really heats up badly. We hang out there most of the day anyway. I feel badly for my yard….drought plus heat make for very unhappy plants.
Love that clock! Reminds me of the clocks at train stations, in which I spent a considerable amount of time during my youth, traveling to and from my grandparents, who live on the opposite coast, in Canada. I’m glad it makes you and Don smile. And a belated HB to Don. A b’day breakfast is just the right meal to eat ,
It was sinfully good, that breakfast! Not something I could have every day or even once a week!
The new clock was made for your house, wasn’t it?
Sorry about the heat, but soon it will be over. And it cools off at night. Here, on this long, skinny island surrounded by 90 degree water, we won’t see temperatures lower than the 80s (even at night) for another couple of months. Thank all the powers that be for air conditioning.
It isn’t cooling off that much at night yet, Margaret! That won’t start happening until at least September. Though it usually goes down to the seventies, which is cooler than your neck of the woods. Thank goodness for A/C!
Claudia, I’m so impressed that you could actually hang your clock by yourself. You go, girl! I’m way leery of anything that involved drilling, holes etc, probably because I rent. So even though I have all the required tools, it’s usually my brother who lives a half-mile away or my nephew [his son] who come over and help me with those kind of projects. I bow to your skill and competence! Find yourself a few indoor tasks for the afternoon – too hot to be outside for very long this week… :>)
I’ve had that drill since I lived in Boston and have used it more times than I can count! I’m fairly handy with it, but my skills only go so far.
I’m staying inside for sure. I’ll go out to get the mail and water the plants, but that’s about it!
LOVE the clock! Just perfect for your home. I have a large one on my wall that I love with a french look of course! I love Cracker Barrel and only eat there when I need a good comfort meal! I saw Don in an episode of ‘Mr Robot’ and of course he is wonderful. The show is a bit weird but interesting. Well off to babysit my Grands today!
hugs,
Linda
I love that show. Yes, it is definitely weird but thank goodness there’s something original and interesting on TV! I think Don did a good job – I just watched in on Saturday. (He hasn’t seen it yet.)
Breakfast sounds awfully good about right now. It’s definitely my favourite meal, although I never seem to have time for it except on Sundays. The clock is awesome – good job hanging it!
Thank you so much for all the mini links – I had a lot of fun window shopping (I deliberately left my wallet in another room) on Etsy yesterday.
Ah yes. I often have to leave my wallet in another room!
It is like the side of that cupboard (and that doorway) has just been WAITING for that clock to be added ~ and now it is complete!
Ugh to this weather. By the middle of the week we are to be a bit cooler. Hoping so!
I, too, ended up w/ the petite zinnias. How does that happen? My seed packets show the ones I have always used. Maybe like groceries, they, too, are just getting smaller.
I often wonder if they mislabel the seeds. It isn’t the first time I’ve had something other than what was pictured on the cover come up out of the ground!
That clock looks fantastic! It really fits in with your decor. We are about to embark on an equally hot period here…oh well…not much one can do about it! No weed pulling for me! Stay cool! ;)
Ix-nay on the weed pulling for me, as well! Stay in the A/C Donnamae!
Your clock looks like it was meant to live right where you’ve put it. I had one of those once, in my former cottage; called a railroad clock. I wonder why; I should look that up.
I suppose because they were used at railway stations and you could see them from either side? I’ve also seen that sort of clock in front of a shop or in a public area. Whatever it is, I really love it.
Yeah, I’ve been fishing around on the web since I’ve seen your clock, which has made me miss mine. We left it in the house for the new owner because it was bracketed on a carved wood ceiling arch and we didn’t want to mar the wood. I should know more about trains and railway stuff because my grandfather was a foreman on a railroad and we have his pocket watch from the 1920s-1920s era; like an official railiroad timepiece, not just the conventional watch. Fascinating thing I came upon just now, posted by someone named Kent Singer on the internet…this is about a railroad watch and not a clock, but it lead me to thinking about how important the concept of ‘time’ is when it comes to travel on a train, which is something I’ve really never done, nor have I spent any time in train stations, thus my ignorance: “The use of watches on American railroads goes back almost to the beginning. As soon as there were two trains moving in opposite directions on a single-track line, there arose a need to control their movements. Very early on, those movements were described in terms of scheduled times and by how far off of scheduled time a train was. Railroad time service requirements preceded the American watch industry. Rules were in place as early as 1849 and by the mid-1850’s a number of railroads had some form of program. Almost from the beginning, the key requirement was to keep time within 30 seconds per week.” Then I read this somewhere else: “Specialized timepieces once were crucial for safe and correct operation of trains. A system called Timetable and Train Order, which relied on highly accurate timekeeping, was used to ensure that two trains could not be on the same stretch of track at the same time.” And, yes, obviously, you’re right, it must be that the railway station doublesided clocks were necessary for both passengers and general railroad personnel; only the conductor, engineer, etc. had an official watch in their pocket! Saw tons of different styles for sale of both watches and clocks when I was looking it up just now. I want my clock back after seeing yours!
My eyes are bugging me this morning; I meant to say my grandpa’s watch is from the 1920s-1930s era.
Love the clock Claudia. I wanted to buy a similar one for our daughter a few years ago that read “Kensington Station” on it. Since the two of us had spent a week in London together when she graduated from nursing school, and our hotel was located next to Kensington Station, I thought it was appropriate. I talked to my husband about it the night I saw it in the store to get his opinion and then went back to buy it the next day. It was sold. Oh my disappointment. Maybe it taught me to not procrastinate. Then again, maybe I’ll see another one someday!
Blessings,
Betsy
I hope you find one someday, Betsy!
Glad that Don had a great birthday treat! The clock looks great, I like the two sidedness of it! xx
Me too!
I love the clock – so perfect for your kitchen!
I often ignore the news these days. Much too depressing.
Oh, too bad about the tiny Zinnias, but the one in the photo is beautiful.
I didn’t get to comment yesterday, but thank you for all of the miniature information you took the time to gather. Some new ones to me that I’ll definitely be checking out. Not sure if anyone already mentioned this (or if you even want to know :) ), but the link below Hearth and Home ALSO leads to Hearth and Home.
Oh, no one did. I’ll fix that. Thank you, Debbie!
That’s one neat clock and perfect for you and Don – never seen one like it before.
Cracker Barrel – didn’t even know they were up north – they’re all over the place down here – but I’ve only been once! I’m just not a big breakfast or lunch person anymore, in fact I like my yogurt and fruit, or a muffin or toast and marmalade around 10:30 am – that suffices for the two meals – but I love dinner time and can chow down with the rest of ’em then! I’ve been cooking so much this past couple of weeks – it’s just too hot to go out anywhere.
Stay cool in your expected heatwave Claudia.
Hugs – Mary
Too hot to cook for sure! I find I eat less in this weather – maybe I’ll lose a few pounds!
We normally don’t go to chain restaurants, but if we had to choose one, we’d both choose Cracker Barrel. Their food is so good! Hmm…which would you rather have: this hot weather or bitter cold and/or snow?! ;-) I’m not a fan of 90+ degree weather either, but I’ll take that any day over our winters! I’ve never ordered anything from Decor Steals, but love your clock. Looks perfect in your house. Maybe I have my head in the sand, but I never watch the news on TV and rarely read it online. Much too depressing.
Love love Cracker Barrel! We hardly ever go out to eat, either, so when we do, a good breakfast is our favorite.
Your Cracker Barrel birthday breakfast sounds yummy…I love that clock and I’m going to order it if they still have any tomorrow..
Oh, Nancy – those sales are one day only and then they’re gone. You could subscribe to their posts because, chances are, they’ll bring it back again. But it will probably take some time.
That is what I thought when I first looked at their website but if you click on Extended Steals you will find it for sale at $29.99….I just love it and I have the perfect spot to hang it…I just have to get to the bank and deposit the money then come home and order it…..I am getting this with the rest of my birthday money that I never spent….