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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Whimsy

Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 9:23 am (Youngest of Seven)
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Just easing back into things after a trip to Atlanta to be with my 3 sisters. This used to be an annual event — our Sisterfest — but we hadn’t done it in 6 years or so. Thanks to my Atlanta sister’s excellent hosting and pampering skills (she’s the middle child — always aiming to please), we visiting sisters had a great, relaxing time (although I’m not convinced SHE did). And I’m sure I gained 5 lbs. in 5 days, happily tossing aside the last 5 months of dieting to eat absolutely everything in sight. It was heaven, on many levels.

I didn’t take a camera — sometimes taking pictures of the 4 of us together can be a little too “Picture of Dorian Grey” for my taste — except that we’re aging in real life, too, not just in pictures.

But I was glad to have my phone camera to snap a few shots of whimsy.

My favorite is this…on my seat on AirTran Flight 993, non-stop service from Pittsburgh to Atlanta, someone made my day.

Someone fun and mischievous and talented who sat in that same seat sometime before me had knitted or crocheted a “cozy” around the tray table arm. (I’m thinking crochet, since I don’t know if they let you have knitting needles in your carry-on!) Seamless, it would have to be cut or unraveled to remove.

No way of knowing how long it’s been there. I didn’t notice it for a while. When I did, my sister and I checked all the seats around us, wondering if this was some new design element. But no, it was just for me.

How cute. How unexpected. I’m sure I’d love the woman who did it (because, you know, it had to be a woman).

My other “wish I had a camera” moment came on our visit to the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

They had a “living wall” — something Mike and I have talked about adding to our side patio, but haven’t managed to execute yet.

It’s so cool. Chock-full of herbs and succulents, it looks and smells great. A guy was watering it by wringing out a wet sponge over the plants. In Atlanta’s heat, I imagine that would be a constant battle…or they have some other, faster watering method too.

I want one!

I’m also a sucker for garden art.

Loved this rustic and beautiful St. Francis statue.

Coveted this awesome wrought gate.

As my sister and I noted, there’s nothing like a trip through someone else’s glorious garden to make you feel like you better get home and get to work.

So I am. Too bad it’s not all in the garden.

Sisters are different flowers from the same garden.
~ Author Unknown

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