Little bits o’ nothing (that make life fun)

Monday, May 16, 2011 at 3:39 pm (Cottage Industry, Heavy Clay, Writing by Ear)
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I noticed I haven’t written any “deep” posts for a long time — just little bits of nothing. I’m OK with that. My life lately has been a lot of these little bits, and sometimes that’s a lot better than drama-trauma overload. No soaring highs or belly-flopping lows. Even keel. Steady as she goes. I’ll take it!

So, perfect for the little bits o’ nothing vein, someone in the vast direct marketing universe hit their target (part of it anyway — nailing “interest” if not “income”) and the catalog of my dreams showed up in my mailbox. Addressed to me. Not to “Occupant” or the former owners or, heaven-forbid, Mike.

Everyone out there know MacKenzie-Childs? I’ve known the brand for years, but have only seen bits and pieces here and there in specialty stores.

I was unprepared for the OMGness that is the catalog.

It’s kind of Alice in Wonderland meets cottage garden meets floral chintz extravaganza.

In other words, it’s just for me.

“Oh, I want this!”… “Oh, I NEED this!!”… “OH, I MUST HAVE THIS!” with every turn of the page.

I swooned over the Flower Market Enamelware.

Fit for the finest cakes and scones!

Oh, and this champagne bucket, please. With these glasses.

   

And while I’m at, why not all of these pretties for my kitchen?

And what about this Queenly garden furniture (off with your head if you don’t just love it).

Not fantastical enough? How about this chair instead?

Of course, I’d need this loveseat and end table to complete the ensemble.

   

And maybe the Toulouse Goose to mix things up a bit.

And of course my garden would have to be entered through this gate.

And the birds would have to have proper places to dwell.

And the few bits of mail worth receiving would be delivered here.

So what if exactly none of these things fits my budget?

And Mike would probably move out.

I just admire people who go beyond thinking outside the box to actually living and working outside it.

Sit next to me and let’s discuss the possibilities.

Starting with the fact that the Aurora, NY, farmhouse where the magic gets made is a mere 6 hours away from where I sit.

Getaway weekend, anyone?

Who’s with me?

If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.
~ Katharine Hepburn

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Wanderlust

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at 12:13 pm (Writing by Ear)
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i-am-here.jpgThese boots were clearly not made for walkin’. Except for a stint at college 2 hours away (I transferred back to Pittsburgh sophomore year), I’ve mostly been within 20 minutes of the house I grew up in. Now, living about an hour east of there (the Google Earth map you see is accurate), I still miss “home.” Yes, folks, all those people who criticize Pittsburghers as being “too provincial” are right. I was in college before I had even been to the South Hills — about 45 minutes away (but with a bridge and a tunnel between us in the North Hills). I know many fellow ‘Burghers who consider that length of drive in any direction from where they live to be “All that way? Over there? How do you even get there?”

Even with that legacy holding me here, I always wonder what it would be like to live somewhere else — another city, another state, maybe even another country. Global warming notwithstanding, I think increasingly of moving farther south to escape 3 months or more of winter drudgery every year.

Not being very well traveled, I get my inspiration from TV. Being a house junkie (I’ve owned 5 so far), I love the HGTV show “House Hunters” because it shows housing options in cities across the U.S., and there’s even an international version. It’s fascinating to see what it’s like (and how much it costs) to live in Savannah or Minneapolis or Boston or Mobile, not to mention Mexico or the Caribbean or Tuscany or Paris. Who knew that in Italy (or maybe it was Spain), people don’t have mortgages and instead save up to buy their homes outright? Can you imagine saving $100,000, $200,000, $300,000 to buy your house? Of course, a tiny apartment in the heart of Paris will run you a cool million or more. In Mexico, you can get a charming colonial (1800s) row house in the heart of a blossoming artist community for $150,000.

Who knows if this “research” will result in a move elsewhere someday. Too many variables in that decision, one Mike and I will make together and only after a lot of soul searching. 

In the meantime, dreaming is free and quite a pleasant distraction from arctic wind chills, boring work assignments, and endless fixer-upper chores. Wanna come? I hear you can get a great 2 BR condo with water views in St. Maarten for $200K.

I was trying to daydream, but my mind kept wandering. 
                                                                ~ Steven Wright

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