What a great discussion we had yesterday! Thank you for your wise words and perspective. I am blessed with wonderful readers.
Oh boy, is it cold here! It’s 9:30 and it still ‘feels like’ -3°. It’s also quite windy. Needless to say, we’re going to hunker down here today, only venturing out to run the cars for a few minutes and get the mail.
That jigsaw puzzle I’m working on is hard! Jeanie mentioned that she did it last winter and she had issues with it, too. Yesterday, I sat at the table and though I did add some pieces here and there, I was stumped (I was also sort of out of it yesterday) so I walked away for a while. Don was upstairs recording, so I didn’t have the opportunity to do any work on the Beacon Hill. Today, I’ll be in the office/studio starting to prime the red room.
But I did sneak up there to play with my dolls for a bit.
Livvy and Zoe offering their thoughts on wallpaper samples. From their reaction, I don’t think either of these are on the table.
Okay, girls! I’ll keep looking!
I cannot express how much I love these dolls. They’ve brought such joy into my life. And the Blythe community on Instagram is pretty darned wonderful and supportive.
My thought for today: do whatever brings you joy. I worked in offices for years and I was very unhappy. I’ve temped, I’ve worked for a ‘biological media and reagents’ company – both in Detroit and in Philadelphia. I worked at an animal hospital. I worked as a receptionist. I did makeup for productions at the Philadelphia Opera Company. I worked 40 hours a week in an office and then worked an additional 30 hours doing theater. I did whatever I had to do to pay rent and put food on the table and for many, many years – well into my thirties – that’s all I did. I couldn’t afford to indulge in anything other than the basic necessities. So I know what it’s like to live frugally, to sacrifice. And when I decided to freelance after we moved to the east coast, I was back doing fill-in work between coaching jobs. It isn’t an easy life, but it’s the life I chose – that we chose – and I have absolutely no regrets.
Creativity – whether in my work in the theater or elsewhere – brings me joy. Collecting things I love brings me joy. Reading and books bring me joy. Looking around my house at the things Don and I have found and purchased – at the egg cups in the cubby, the Roseville in the china cabinets, the McCoy pottery everywhere, the books on shelves in the den and in the bedroom, the dollhouses, both newer and vintage, the dollhouses in progress in the office, Don’s guitars, his Big Boys on his desk, his speakers and microphones and other paraphernalia, his journals and notebooks, his awards, our mementos from the theater, paintings we love on the walls, the quilts I’ve made and the throws I’ve knitted and crocheted, Stella, my grandmother’s piano, my great-grandmother’s china, my dad’s Model T car made of lead, his paintings, my mom’s Shirley Temple doll, and the Blythe dolls – all of that brings me joy. It makes our house a home, it reflects just who Don and I are. I have no regrets about any of the things I love and collect for they tell a story. Minimalism has no appeal for me, though I certainly understand why others like it. But it’s not for me. I love vintage and used. I love color. And I love to collect things I am drawn to, that make me want to research them, to know more about them, to discover over time. In the end, it’s what I’m surrounded by that stimulates me.
I’m so grateful to be have had a career in the theater – something I’ve sustained over 40 years. To do what you love is priceless and I never take it for granted.
But to live a life of kindness and compassion – for other humans and for animals, bugs, birds, bees, trees, plants – all living things, is my ultimate goal. And The Golden Rule is my guide.
I really went off on a tangent there, didn’t I? Sometimes – quite often, in fact – writing a post brings clarity to who I am and what I believe and want in my life. Thanks, friends, for reading and caring enough to read this blog.
Stay safe.
Happy Tuesday.
I think realizing you are not the only living thing with ideas, feelings and rights is part of being adult.
The joy you receive from your girls, beings me joy and smiles! I just thought that being happy for your friends is also part of being an adult.
Take Care,
Kaye
Park City, UT
Yes, you’re right. Celebrating what makes your friends happy, what they’ve accomplished, is very adult. It’s also very kind.
Thank you, dear Kaye.
Stay safe.
Beautiful blog post today! Thank you for sharing.
You are most welcome, Judy.
Stay safe!
I love reading your blog! You bring me clarity and happiness when you explain how you are feeling. Don’t stop being You!!
Marion
I won’t! I can’t.
Stay safe, Marion!
Claudia, you had and have such a BIG life, and I’m grateful I can be a miniscule part of it by reading your posts and vicariously enjoying the miniatures, your Blythes, your sweet cottage, and your obvious love and adoration for Don.
Sometimes I think how fun it would be if all of us Claudia commenters get together with you for an afternoon of conversation. Like what is done here in the comments, only in person.
Thank you for having such strong convictions and not being afraid to hold on to and sharing them. You truly inspire me to be a better me.
Wouldn’t that be heaven? All of us meeting up somewhere?
Thank you for words of encouragement, Wendy.
Stay safe.
It may be my generation
I became a teacher in my forties and lived every day of my life
However I loved every day raising kids and even Owning small hallmark store
I grew up poor and although we had antiques and collections when we raised our kids all money really went to kids and now I use for grands and their education, etc
Minimalism works for me even though I am right brained. It does not for others.
Life is so good and I have so many hobbies and teaching grands and walking I have little time lol
I did 1900 miles 2020
1500 last year
Every step is painful but it is helping me live and out off surgeries
Have you read anything really greats lately
No, I’m having trouble concentrating on reading lately, Brenda. I started Cloud Cuckoo Land and I know it will be wonderful – the problem is me and my attention span/anxiety.
Stay safe!
Prayers
You have had some hectic hectic though joyful weeks
It will come
Thanks for the encouragement, Brenda! xoxo
I admire you helping with your grandchildren ‘s education
Many people would spend it on themselves and say it is their time.
In our old age I think we are becoming minimalists.
It is minimal trust me…just a token…they have done it and are doing it on their own…I don’t need things…
And you are a wonderful writer!
Aw, thank you, Betsy.
Stay safe!
Love your post today. Don’t ever stop being YOU! Reading your blog every morning always gives me a jump start to the day.
Stay safe!
Bless you, Cathy. Thank you.
Stay safe!
Joy and gratitude…we need more of that in the world.
I love that your girls have a house!
Take care
Me too, though they will have to take turns as they can’t all fit in there at the same time!
Stay safe, Marilyn.
I think it’s great that you live a life of no regrets. That’s the way it is supposed to be! But I have a lot of regrets; wish I didn’t. I try hard to put the past behind me but it doesn’t always work. Just have to be disciplined about it; try harder.
One way to keep focused on the present is to just keep busy, and I always have a lot to do around here; decluttering became my middle name. OMG, we went to our offsite storage facility after 8 or 9 months and it was either a small earthquake or a poorly-packed storage box which collapsed/shifted, creating a domino effect of tilting boxes; we couldn’t even get the garage door of the unit open without great difficulty and trying not to damage it, since it’s not our property. It was a 5-minute drive-by which turned into a 2-hrs-long task of repacking, restacking. At least there were no leaks from a lot of December rain. Soonest we can be free of this offsite storage garage, the better, not to mention how much it’s costing us pricewise each month. By now, the rental cost has likely exceeded the monetary value of what’s stored. Makes no good financial sense at all.
I was thinking of how I always go back to beginning blogs on the web; how they were mostly online journals. Your blog is true to this when so many others have deviated into being almost selling sites, or with no variety, like a shelter magazine that’s irrelevant. When you end your post, “…writing brings clarity to who I am and what I believe and want in my life”, this is terrific! It’s why I write; I keep trying to sort it all out on ‘paper’; write it down. Get all the jumbled brain stuff onto a page; clear out the cobwebs. It’s very beneficial.
Your blog is THE BEST, Claudia; never doubt it! I definitely LEARN from you AND your readers.
(Stay warm; watch that slippery stuff outside. Can you believe in Southern Calif that we’ll be in the 80s today with high ocean waves [9-footers with as much as ten sets; big warnings to stay off the jetties and never turn your back on the sea as she’s unpredictable] and tons of Santa Ana wind, three days running? Our bodies don’t know how to cope with the wild swings of weather and temperatures here!)
Claudia, I also have that house! When you bought it, I was in a mid-century phase (normally not ‘me’), so I found the last one at my Target store (and it was on sale, to my recollection). I too have never done anything with it, but I like it, which is why I’ve kept it. In bits and pieces (some of which came from a friend with whom my husband once shared an office), I’ve cobbled together some authentic-enough furniture for the house although I’m never as precise and true to scale as are you because I’m just not even close to ‘expert’ when it comes to doll-house-ing (I’m the most amateurish of the amateurs). As soon as I can get my one human bedroom finished with the ‘home improvements’ (remodeling, DIY; we’re incredibly slow at it!), I want to make a place for this doll house (and have some fun with it). Can’t wait to see what you do with yours, for the Blythes!
xoxoxo!
Yay!
So interesting, because my kind of blog (which is becoming rarer and rarer) is not one advertisers are particularly interested in. They want thousands of readers, people showing their expensive DIY stuff, people plugging things (under the title: Influencer, which I detest) – that’s what brings in money. But there were and maybe still are a bunch of us who have never done that and wouldn’t be comfortable doing that. So my ad income is minimal, but it’s fine that way.
We also have a storage site and they keep raising the rate every six months. This year, we’re going to be ruthless and clear that site. When we have the new roof on the shed, we can move some of it back.
xo
They hiked our rent 34 percent. I protested loudly to them. Did no good.
They know they’ve got you over a barrel because you can’t just suddenly move all your stuff (well, WE can’t). I’ve been hopping mad/angry about it.
But, yes, it’s incentive to indeed be ruthless, about not just what we can discard/move along of the stuff that’s stored there, but also about our schedule/timetable/goals and not just be in a ‘hold’ pattern (finish home improvements; finish home decluttering-downsizing of possessions; make space; keep working; get all our stuff back onsite and even out of our rear-yard sheds which technically only should be for yard equipment).
We’ve just gotta be more disciplined this year; more organized. Manage our time better. Prioritize.
Yes, I protest every time and they say they are charging the same as every other facility in ‘the market.’
We still need a storage unit, but we’d like to dump at least half of the stuff and use a smaller unit. That’s our goal.
xo
claudia — I so enjoy your writing, as others have said here, it can be thought provoking as well as informative and entertaining, helping to bring memories forward to re remember. Your lives can/should be encouragement for all of us, especially when we have bad days as all of us do. Thank you for writing/sharing yourself w/all of us. outside here, it is very cold BUT we have full sunshine which is so much better than those gloomy, cloudy days we have had this winter. covid is resurging here right now — terrible conditions for the drs, nurses, etc, can’t imagine their endurance but am so thankful for their care. pls stay safe, healthy
Sunshine helps so much, doesn’t it? We have that, tooo.
Stay safe, Linda.
Hi Claudia, I am happy that you are feeling better today. I wake up every morning and look so forward to reading your blog and looking at your photos. Don’t mean to put any pressure on you! Just know how much you are appreciated being just the way you are. I was thinking at some point I would love to see a virtual tour of your lovely cottage. Maybe something to think about?! Stay safe and warm!
Thank you for your kind words, Deb. Trying to hang in there!
Stay safe.
I love this post — a marvelous tangent! And I get it. I love everything I’ve collected, too — which is what makes the thought of downsizing so difficult, not just physically but emotionally. It’s so good to “hear” you smile after the stresses of December! Even if they were good and valuable ones.
There were very good and as time goes by, I realize that more and more. It’s only been a month since we wrapped, yet it seems so long ago!
Thanks, Jeanie.
Stay safe.
I would say you are rich in all the things that count most. And sharing your lovelies makes my life richer too, so thank you. I’m glad you’ve chosen a creative and fulfilling life!
Thank you, Roxie. I’m glad I have, too. I can’t imagine doing it any other way. Well, I can, but I would be terribly unhappy.
Stay safe.
been some long days (with big stuff connected to my old job, plus lots of learning at my new one, etc … life) and i’m almost falling asleep right now so will just say bravo and ditto to everything. and thanks for sharing.
stay safe and well.
kathy
I hope there’s no fallout from the place you used to work, Kathy.
Stay safe!
thank you, claudia.
there is and i’ve been told there will be lawyering on my behalf.
it’s pretty much out of my hands at this point so i have no more details to share at present. some other time and soon, hopefully.
kathy in iowa
Much love to you.
My home is a giant scrapbook. I love what I love, preserve our past and make no apologies, not even for the dust! Be happy, take joy!
I love that. A ‘giant scrapbook!’ Perfect.
Stay safe, Suzanne.