When you’re from the country, one of the best things about visiting a city is the walkability of the neighborhoods and the availability of fresh things like flowers, produce and pastries on seemingly every corner.
I have always loved this picture from a market in New York several years ago. Hopefully you will too. Have a good day, friends.
Snow begs to be preserved in black and white. Sometimes I wonder why I feel compelled to rob a perfectly fine picture of its color but there’s peace and serenity to be found in these images from home.
These small trees in my back yard remind me some of Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree. Perhaps this is why I like them so. They’re underdogs.
And the giant in my front yard that I often photograph in snow, rain, sunshine, sunrise and dusk. It seems even more imposing here than it does in any other photo in my collection.
When it snows I frequent the same spots around my yard but am often amazed at how appearances change in different light, with different snow.
Black and white transforms these scenes into something completely different. This snow from Christmas is long gone but I look forward to the next snow and the opportunities afforded to my camera.
It takes precious little to send me down a rabbit hole when I have time to go pursuing random and unneeded information.
For example, my 100th book of 2020 was “Love, Lucy,” the autobiography of Lucille Ball.
This book is superbly done and it felt as though Lucy was sitting there chatting away about her life through the mid-sixties. Throughout, she mentions a number of movies, plays, actors, places and other subject matter that kept me reach for Google.
Her mention of beloved actor Gale Gordon reminded me of early mornings a few years ago when I would get up early for reruns of “Our Miss Brooks.” This sent me looking for information on actress Eve Arden who starred in this show that was produced by Desilu Studios.
She always reminded me of Lucille Ball but I didn’t realize that they had worked together and that she had also played the school principal in the Grease movies.
And then I went looking for other shows from the Desilu production family. All were long before my time and many unfamiliar to me. However, a number of hit shows were filmed at their studios including Andy Griffith, That Girl, Gomer Pyle, My Three Sons and the Dick Van Dyke Show.
I used to love the Dick Van Dyke Show and so I went looking for clips which led me back to this awesome music video by the Dust Bowl Revival that stars Mr Van Dyke.
Really, it never gets old so watch it.
It was about this time that I remembered my visit to Stonewall Jackson’s Headquarters in Winchester, Va. where I learned a story with a Mary Tyler Moore connection. Click the link above for that story!
And then I went looking for pictures from my Winchester trips.
This microphone was used by Patsy Cline and can be seen at her childhood her home.
And this is a brief glimpse into my mind when I have too much time to think and peruse the internet.
Exhausting, isn’t it?
Scout got a new toy for Christmas. Unfortunately, he hasn’t shown a great deal of interest in this monstrosity.
It’s a four foot tall kitty tree complete with lots of things to scratch and to laze on.
He was quite engaged as I was putting it together. Here he is before he understood that it was his.
Once he realized that I actually wanted him to play with it, well, let’s just say that he has other interests.
I have tried it in different rooms and windows, placed toys on it and tried to entice him to play.
I’ve even played it cool, trying not to show too much interest. After all, any self respecting cat knows you shouldn’t do what humans demand.
When I put him on it, he uses the thing as a tool for climbing higher and reaching things he shouldn’t have.
I’ve taken to using it as a side table as it is next to my favorite chair at the moment.
At least it’s good for something!
Illustration by Lore Pemberton.January is a different kind of month for me and I have come to look forward to it. You see, I do what I call a No Spend Challenge.
It’s a simple concept. Bills are paid and necessities are purchased. So I put gas in the tank and buy groceries but try not to eat out or buy a lot of extra stuff I don’t need.
If the heel breaks on my good work shoes, I dig through my closet for a suitable back up. If I feel like it’s necessary to replace them, then I do so but the rule is I can only buy the shoes I need and not something I just want.
If there’s something I think I want (or need that’s not an emergency), I usually write it down. Often times, by the end of the month, I no longer care about the thing. In other words, there’s not a mad dash to the store to buy all the stuff I missed shopping for in the previous weeks.
This isn’t an outlandish concept. After all, many people live within these boundaries every day by choice or necessity.
I’m reasonably frugal and a smart shopper but have a weakness for buying sale groceries, books, and small items at the cash register like Tic Tacs.
These things add up.
January is a great time to do this as there’s no where to be and it gets dark so early that I’m pleased to stay home where it’s cozy and warm.
Focus is placed on using what I have and taking care of my home. I tend to tidy the kitchen cabinets, clean out the closet and purge a few things. I cook more, making extras for the freezer. Activities like reading, puzzles, movie nights and bubble baths take the place of browsing antique stores and running around. In 2020, I wasn’t out shopping in stores so much but did a fair amount of online shopping and driving around looking at stuff.
This month is a method of realigning habits and priorities while killing the urge to shop. Plus I save money.
Last year, I was so pleased with my no spend month that it ran over into February.
In preparation, I spent some time last week listing all the things I can do to entertain myself for free. Hiking, reading and painting made the top of the list that runs seventy items strong. This particular exercise is an amazing way to remember how much there is to do that’s fun or at least useful and that costs zero dollars.
I was practicing the Norwegian concept of Hygge long before it was cool or even before I knew the term for it. Nothing makes me happier than warm pjs, soft blankets, and delicious aromas emanating from a pot on the stove. I’m so excited to be home more and doing this right now.
January is the perfect time to start or to polish these cozy ways.
The image above is a fun illustration from artist Lore Pemberton. I found her on Instagram this year and immediately was entranced by her vision and artistry. I ordered a couple of small pieces from her for Christmas when she had a sale.
This particular image is a depiction of how I think of my life in January.
Home. Warm. Cozy. Reading.
If you have the time, take a look at her work on her website or follow her on Instagram.
Does a No Spend Month sound like something you would enjoy? Comment! I’ll be happy to chat about it.
Good morning and Happy New Year! Come on 2021. Let’s do this!!