Available cubbies are getting limited. Book now.
Sometime this week, I have to grab my museum wax and use it to adhere each egg cup firmly in place. At some point soon, I’m going to have to pull the cabinet out to get to the cupboard under the stairs, which I open about twice a year. I store some outdoor cushions there as well as the small white Christmas trees that I use. Which reminds me: where am I going to put the plants that are currently on the bistro table when I need to move them out of the way for the Christmas tree? I don’t decorate until mid-December, but I’d better start thinking about that particular problem. Small house = no storage, no usable basement, no attic, no mud room. The result? Constant shuffling of items from one room to another.
Anyway, I have sliders which I’ll put under the cabinet. I think that I’ll stow the cushions in there next week and take all the Christmas stuff out and store it upstairs in the office until I’m ready to decorate. Then I’ll only have to move it once more to put everything back. And that will be it until I need to retrieve the cushions in the Spring.
Now that I’ve bored you to tears, thanks for all your comments yesterday. I see that we’re all coping with this same problem to one degree or another. I was fairly successful yesterday. I finished the book by Michael Connelly, read a short novel that I bought in London – finished that, and started on the newest by James Lee Burke – ย Robicheaux. I’ve had it for a few months and am just now getting to it. What a poetic and lyrical writer Burke is, an amazing feat when he’s writing about murder and corruption in Louisiana! He’s one of the best.
Today we’re having brunch at Rick and Doug’s. A colleague from our days at the Old Globe is visiting.
We talked on the phone with Little Z last night, who lost his two front teeth in an hour’s time – one after another! The adult teeth are coming in right behind them. He’s so adorable, even more so with the gap in his smile.
That’s about it. The potted impatiens bit the dust last night – we had a hard freeze. I’m not sure of the status of the other porch plants, but I am going to have clean all of that up this week, do some more shuffling (into the shed, into storage) and get ready for winter. Yikes.
Happy Monday.
Deb says
Yikes is right! It is snowing here today and going down into the teens temp-wise tonight. I’ll say it again, Yikes!
Yes, trying to stay peaceful and secure in these times is work, too much work at times. My book reading hasn’t returned and I used to read at least three books a week. Sigh…. just trying to stay positive that better times will return.
Love, love the egg cups and their cubbie.
Claudia says
I hope you find your reading mojo again. Mine was gone for several months. But it will come back, I promise!
Wendy T says
I understand shuffling. Even with a fairly large house, I have few storage areas…small closets, no basement, no attic. Thus, the garage houses stuff and not cars. In my neighborhood, houses have a short driveway or a long one, depending on how far back the house is built. Theoretically, this is to give the appearance of an interesting total facade along the block, but I accept the fact that it’s a cookie cutter development and no amount of artifice will change that fact. However, I possess a long driveway, so my cars live on it, instead of in the street.
I finished a Donna Leon book yesterday, cover to cover in a day. It was an immensely satisfying read, with all the elements of a Commissario Brunetti novel, and probably my favorite of the 20+ that I’ve read….the character development, the descriptions of Venetian life and the Venetian way of thinking about life, the twists and turns, and overlaying the whole, the humanity and solid goodness of the protagonist. Today, I started My Girls, a bit of light reading by Todd Fisher about his relationship with his famous mother and sister. Reading about his childhood…what a life so far. Not only rubbing elbows from infancy with the Golden Age movie stars (they weren’t celebrities then, but movie stars), but his description of the house in which he grew up and the lifestyle…I grew up around the same era but night and day, night and day!
I bet you had fun at brunch, telling stories and laughing much! Preparing for winter won’t be a quarter as fun, but it’s an unfortunate necessity. Hope the reshuffling goes quickly and you can enjoy other pursuits (like adhering museum wax to egg cups…at least that can be fun, handling your dozens and dozens of treasures).
Claudia says
I have been meaning to start in on that Donna Leon series, as I’ve heard nothing but good things about it.
I can’t imagine how painful losing his mother and sister in the space of hours must have been for Todd. Bless him.
Linda @ A La Carte says
I just love that cubbie cupboard so much. The most perfect thing for your cottage. Good idea about the museum wax! It is raining so much today so I’m grateful I don’t have anywhere to go and can stay home and read and play in my house. I will have to roll the garbage/recycle cans out later but hope to find a brief in between showers moment to do so. Not sure why but the Christmas bug has bitten me early this year. I’m going to do a seasonal change in my hall bathroom because the Grands enjoy it so much when Grammie decorates. Otherwise the trees will come out after Thanksgiving. Enjoy your brunch today and big hugs to you!
(I hope Mere with show Little Z with his front teeth out!)
Claudia says
It’s cold here now! Goodness! Now that you have grandchildren, I bet that Christmas decorating is more fun!
Donnamae says
I always have a problem with plants and Christmas. Being a sentimentalist doesnโt help either. I usually put them in our bedroom…it gets plenty of light, we just have to be careful if we get up in the middle of the night. Fortunately, our kitty leaves our plants alone…guess he doesnโt have an appetite for greens.
Furniture sliders for your cubby will be perfect….I didnโt realize you had under the stairs storage behind it. Hope you enjoyed brunch! ;)
Claudia says
Yes. The storage space is quite small, but it’s something!
Connie says
Could you pass on the trees this time and buy a few poinsettias ? They are so festive ! Would a couple of your house plants fit in front of the egg cups on the floor?
Thanks for your travel pics and texts on behalf of my daughter – have been forwarding. She was in London in July and wants to move there immediately.
Love your emails !
Connie. In CT
Claudia says
No, I love my trees. They’re small and they’re magical. Plus, I’ve never been a fan of poinsettias.
In front of the egg cup cabinet is just too dark. They wouldn’t get enough sunlight. I have to lighten any photo taken of that area!
I understand why your daughter wants to move to London!
Chris K in Wisconsin says
Wow, those cubbies are becoming limited! Good idea to do that little closet shuffling just once and get all you need in and out at one time.
Our plants have been frozen for nearly a month now. Got a text & pic from my friend in Denver this AM and they are getting a bunch of snow. ugh. The little bit we received on Sat morning was melted by mid day which made me very happy. It is just so cold. Tomorrow the high is supposed to be 27*. That just seems too early to me. But, for me, anything winter is too early on any date. I have been ready for spring since Nov. 1. Hope you had a fun brunch!!
Claudia says
We had snow squalls the other day, but nothing really hit the ground. That’s as close as we’ve come to snow. I don’t want to wish away a whole season, but winter is a pain in the tush!
Shanna says
We Need a Little Christmas has been playing in my head lately and so I’ve been weighing the pros and cons of decorating for the holidays this year. And that brings to mind all of the shuffling and shifting involved in that endeavor. I don’t look forward to doing it, but we didn’t decorate last year, so this year we do NEED a bit of festivity! After Thanksgiving, we’ll see. Oh, the joys of small house life.
With all of the news of the fires in CA just now, I’ve also been thinking about Vicki, who must be right in the thick of it. Hope all is well with her.
Claudia says
I think everyone needs some festivity this year and some pretty lights.
I’ve been thinking about Vicki, too, but haven’t heard from here. Her last comment made it seem like she was stepping away from social media for a while…
Nancy Blue Moon says
I have been thinking about Vickie too Claudia…I certainly hope she is ok…I thought she would surely tell us about the fires…I do hope that all is well with her and hubby!…I bet that Little Z looks adorable with his missing teeth!…he is such a charmer!!…I’m sure you had a great visit with the guys today too!
Claudia says
Vicki seemed to be in need of a social media break. Too much real world stuff to deal with, I think. I totally understand. I do hope she’s alright – I don’t think the fires have moved to her town. She lives not far from a friend of ours, who is okay.