• I promised to show you this ornament up close and completely forgot about it until now:
This is it. Don gave me this for Christmas. The lovebirds reminded him of our mourning doves. The egg is a real egg – ostrich egg, I think? – and it’s absolutely lovely.
• I finished Something Of His Art: Walking To Lübeck With J. S. Bach yesterday. It’s absolutely charming. It’s also short, about 91 pages or so. The author manages to weave together both journeys, past and present, beautifully. He shares a lot of information about the young Bach and what the journey would have been like in his day; what he would have seen, where he might have stayed, the flora and the fauna that would have surrounded him. The text is so evocative. At the end, I felt like I had taken two journeys – one with J. S. Bach hundreds of years ago, and one with the author and his BBC crew in the present. I recommend it highly. I’m interested in reading more of Horatio Clare’s work.
Now I’m reading Wrecked by Joe Ide, the third in his IQ series. I picked up Lee Child’s latest from the library yesterday so that will be next up in the queue. And I think I’m about ready to continue my cleaning and sorting in the office.
• Can I say that I’m over reading captions like, “I Marie Kondo-ed this room” (or closet, or panty, or…) on Instagram? In other words, you cleaned and got rid of stuff? Is this a new concept? Haven’t we been doing this for hundreds, even thousands, of years? We get in the mood, we sort through everything, making piles to donate or throw away and we clean out the clutter? And then we feel better.
And the whole get rid of anything that doesn’t ‘spark joy?’ My toilet plunger doesn’t ‘spark joy,’ but I need it nonetheless.
Okay. End of rant. It’s just driving me a wee bit crazy.
It’s a gray day today. And cold. But not nearly as cold as the wind chills in the Midwest! Stay warm, my friends. Stay inside!
Happy Sunday.
The ornament is beautiful. What a lovely gift. I am so OVER the Marie Kondo thing. I have been doing this for years. Well I don’t talk to my clothing and and thank it before donating. Sorry a bit snarky. Read a local news story today that a Mom donated a travel mug of her grown sons while doing the Kondo clean and he had stashed $6.5K in it from a recent car sale before getting it to the bank. They are hoping someone will return it. I will be looking for that story but not holding my breath. Wish it were different but it’s probably not. I’ve got a trunk full of stuff to donate and none of it has cash stashed in it for sure.
Not a bit snarky! I agree.
Oh my heavens – losing 6 thousand dollars – not the kind of Marie Kondo-ed cleaning you want!
What a pretty ornament! I gave my daughter an egg decorated with the Nativity this Christmas, purchased from the Ukrainian dance festival held here annually.
I recently watched some of the Marie Kondo episodes on Netflix and I’m afraid I didn’t learn anything new. Drawer dividers and folding things the same size must be in my DNA. Maybe I could get a second job organizing linen closets?
You just might be able to!
It all seems like hype – which, of course, it is.
Barbara W – I would welcome you into my home! I cannot seem to get myself/stuff organized. I thought by my age I would have ‘it all together’…. but not so. So if you are in Ohio, let me know!!
My daughter would gladly put me on a plane to tidy closets south of the border. When she saw that I had also arranged the dollhouse library alphabetically and by subject, she starting calling me “Monica” from Friends.
Barbara W/Monica – oh, my. I might totally stress you out but sounds as if you are just what I need!! We visited someone’s home today that was so beautifully organized AND decorated simply but lovely. I told her I’m going home right now and start on my house since hers was so inspiring.
Hi Claudia,
I’m reading “Running For The Hills,” by Horatio Clare right now and I’m loving it. It’s about his growing up on a sheep farm in Wales. (!) I think you’d probably love it. I want to read his “Bach” book, too.
~Jenny
I’ll write that title down, Jenny. Sandoe also recommended one about Winter. Thanks!
Amen. I’d like to take Marie K and string her up in my basement — and let that give her the willies.
Gorgeous egg.
Ha! Love that!
Thanks Jeanie!
Ooh, another author for me to discover…Horacio Clare, not Marie Kondo! I go through phases, as I know most people do, of accumulating and then letting go. I’m pretty good about donating, upcycling, recycling regularly. I’ve gotten to a place where I’ve almost gone full cycle around my house and will begin again at the beginning, which is usually my closet, as my mood strikes. I don’t need to read someone else’s methods, feelings or ten-steps-to-a-tidier-living-space. Haha, I love your toilet plunger remark, Claudia. The three litter boxes I have don’t spark joy for me either, though they might for my cats, as we scoop the boxes twice a day.
Nor do I need someone else’s “advice” – how about using common sense, people?
I’m sure your kitties feel a bit of joy for those litter boxes, you not so much! Thanks, Wendy.
I find myself being very cynical regarding Marie Kondo, and her whole “ sparking joy” concept. And…I find no need to thank my clothes or possessions for their place in my life, and their years of service. So…I think I’ll continue on my merry way, just organizing, willy nilly. Purging the things I no longer need or use, and hopefully, I won’t accidentally give away or sell something I will regret. Willy nilly has been working so far!
That egg is beautiful…so delicate! That egg…sparks joy! ;)
Neither do I! Living things? Yes. Inanimate objects? No and no.
Love that – the egg does spark joy!
This horrendous cold weather, not to mention another 6-9 inches of snow tonight, sparks no joy in me whatsoever. I’d like to donate.
The egg is so pretty!! “Don and Claudia sitting in a tree…” is what I hummed when I saw it!!
Have a great day!
Oh no! MORE snow?? I’m so sorry!
And they have just “upped” it to 10-12 inches. On Wed the high is supposed to be -15* with wind chills of -50*. Just ridiculous!!!!
Oh no! I’m so sorry!
I found Spark Joy, the book, very helpful. I have to admit that Kondo’s folding techniques and method vertical storage in drawers made my life easier. Like many, I folded clothes and stacked them on top of each other, ending up with very wrinkled clothes. Vertical storage is so much better.
I watched an episode of the show and was disappointed because it was gimmicky & a bit unbelievable.
Glad it helped you, Cara.
What a GORGEOUS egg! Don did good—very, very good! What a thoughtful gift.
I read that book when it first came out. I have things that DON’T bring me joy that I HAVE to keep—lol I think we all do–toilet brush being one of them. I watched a couple episodes of the show but it is not my ‘cup of tea’ (in the cups I keep that don’t match)…lol
Have a wonderful winter Sunday, Claudia! Hugs- Diana
Thank you so much, Diana! You too.
Re: Marie Kondo – I wish you had ranted more. I am sick to death of other people making rules about what you should keep/have in your home. And it’s worse when you get to be a certain age because now you should get rid of everything so no one will have to lift a finger to take care of your stuff once you’re gone. Sheesh!
I wanted to rant more, Lynda! But I thought I should write with a bit of decorum!
That ornament is beautiful. Glad you enjoyed the book.
Marilyn
Thank you, Marilyn.
Your egg is lovely. I am in total agreement concerning cleaning and tidying our homes. Why has the press decided to make such a ruckus about this one guru? It’s not as though there isn’t enough other subjects to be addressed. By the way, Ms. Kondo is a lovely lady, no insult intended.
I’m sure she is. It’s the hype and all those who jump onboard that gets me. Thanks, Billie
Such a beautiful and unique ornament – Don is so sweet. Happy to read your thoughts on Marie Kondo – I was beginning to think I was the only one who is tired of reading about it.
This woman did not reinvent the wheel – she is just telling people to clean their homes & lives of stuff – nothing groundbreaking with that advice.
Exactly! Thanks, Liz.
Have a fabulous Sunday! We visited Bach’s church in Leipzig and learned that he had to write something new for each and every Sunday. Coincidentally, our organist played Bach’s In Thee in Gladness this morning. Oh, love that egg, too!
Thank you, Judy!
That egg ornament is exquisite. Thank you for showing it to us. I got my latest inspiration for purging and organizing from dismantling my parents’ retirement apartment a year ago. By spring I was purging in the kitchen and, after retirement in August, my closet got a going over. Now, with a kitchen reno beginning in the coming months, I’m going through the kitchen again.
Like Chris K mentioned above, we are bracing for at least 13 inches tonight through tomorrow and then frigid temps the rest of the week. Upside is my husband has already decided he’s not going in to work Monday and let his staff know they shouldn’t push it either if roads are bad. And me, I’m just smugly grateful now that I don’t have to hit the interstate when the weather is so awful. I’ll bet they close the university tomorrow anyway. So ready for spring!!
OMG Claudia, totally agree with you re the whole Marie Kondo thing. Reminds me somewhat of the craze that surrounded Martha Stewart when she first came on the scene, except that she was into more than cleaning & organizing. Over-exposure is the word here, I think. Maybe I’m getting cynical in my old age, but I suspect especially-vigorous PR professionals in both cases. I wish we could only keep things that inspire joy, but that’s really unrealistic. We need a lot of boring things in life, let’s face it. Oh well. Marie’s day will pass soon enough. PS – your egg is beautiful. Prettier that Faberge, in my opinion. Peace. ❄️
#Resist
#ProtectMueller
I haven’t heard of Marie Kondo before. I’ve just checked her and found an articel in yesterday’s newspaper. Oh my! Obviously, she has started her crusade in Europa, too. ;-)
First off your ornament is beautiful. As for Marie Kondo, I borrowed the book from the library because of wanting to decluttered. I did not quite understand about dumping the books in the middle of my living room (messy) and the other finding if the books give me joy? of course the books give me joy. So giving up my books is going to be hard. :) I know that there was more in the book, I didn’t get very far in Marie Kondo’s book.
Good morning Claudia,
I read your blog, first thing in the morning, while sipping something warm. Today, I did the whole drinking, snorting thing when I read the “toliet plunger” comment. Classic!
Keep it real,
Deb
This Marie Kondo madness is affecting me in the same way all of the white décor and Ray Dunn dishware on IG is.
It seems like a fad now and yes,in it’s extreme minimalism has it’s own costs. Just laughing at your comment!
It’s Wednesday and I just wanted to say that I’m sorry you’re still under the weather. This is definitely weather to be under–we had 6″ of snow (you probably got more) and now back to the deep freeze. Hoping you are warm and cosy. I know Don will take good care of you. I’m sending you a virtual cup of Belgian cocoa with a floating island of whipped cream and a big soft borrowed dog to be your blankie. XO
I also wanted to say that if you’re ill or perhaps without internet, we’re thinking about you and wishing you well.
Oh my! The cookie I was enjoying last night almost spewed when I read your toilet plunger comment. Still giggling this morning! ;)
Sometimes clearing things out can be over rated. My sisters and I recently finished cleaning out my parents home. They kept every card, letter, and note that they ever received in their 55 year marriage and before. My husband and I have shared glasses of wine while reading the letters between my dad and grandfather during my Dad service in Germany in 1952. The sympathy cards sent to them upon my grandmother, uncle, and sister’s deaths in 1960 brought us to tears. The sympathy cards from my brothers death in 1974 helped us all share our individual pain we had felt but didn’t know how to share as teens. We need people like Marie in our world but we need also need the hoarders. I love your blog Claudia! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with all of us. …p.s. I am not in love with my toilet plunger either!