HouSE tOUrs

When people (not just anyone, but those who I consider friends) come to visit my home for the first time, I almost always - give a house tour.

Our home isn't large.
Our home isn't fancy.
There are no brand spankin' new kitchen countertops, cabinetry or flooring to show off.
Our wall to wall carpeting is old, buckled in places and, truth be told, could use a deep and thorough shampooing.
Well.

We don't have the accoutrements of the type of high-living that most might strive towards. Not out of our own desire, nor for show n' tell.
Even if we did, these things would not come close to defining who we ARE.
Some are of the mindset that these things do just that for them.

Any home decor updates we take on are what little things we've managed to make affordable and/or that help to create a comfy lifestyle. Thus far. To be sure, the list of 'wouldn't it be nice to have...' is still yards long...

Still, it would be out of character for DollinkHubby and me to stage our home to show off how much disposable income$$ we have (we don't) or how well we've managed to keep up with the prevailing trends in Wannabe Affluent Looking type living, or - worse yet - to 'one up' our fam and friends. Most of what we have in the way of material possessions is NOT to render our visitors feeling envious
(well ---- except for ----- my honest-to-goodness authentic / purchased in Pennsylvania / made by an Amish woman / queen sized / completely hand quilted / Amish quilt ---- which I get a lusty satisfaction from seeing other quilt enthusiasts become grrrrrrrrrreeeeen with envy over....).

Ahem.
Nothing here of that sort to envy...
UNLESS, of course - it is the intangible,
homey, welcoming ambiance of our home environment that is communicated, enviable and ultimately, enjoyed.
That here is an aesthetic that is at once
pleasingly coordinated
as well as
decidedly (and fancifully) eclectic
and
full o' touches of the personalities of the people, and of those who have touched the lives of the people, who live here.
Most importantly - welcoming.
As in mi casa es su casa.

But hey.
That ain't what this post is about.

It's about those HouSE tOUrs -
and
how I've come to notice (granted, I've 'come to notice' many and more things of this sort as I get older...)
that
some people
give house tours
and
others don't.

F'rinstance -
having visited the homes of people who have grown increasingly close in the way that good friends become like extended family -
there are still some of these family-friends whose homes I've not seen the whole of (like their bedrooms and/or bathrooms) -
though I've visited their homes on numerous occasions.

Why is that?

They don't give whole house tours.
Some people choose only to have guests tour the 'showcase areas' of their houses.
(We have no such designated spaces, so I show most everything, without resorting to opening closets and drawers...).

Not seeing personal/private rooms should be no big thing. After all, there is such a thing as privacy and some areas could/should remain absolutely 'nobody sees this space but us'.
I'm sure that in their 'private rooms' some people keep their piles of unfolded laundry stashed, mountains of unpaid bills, gold bullion (or sex toys) out in the open and in full view. I know from freshly laundered clothes and well as stacks of unpaid IOUs, so those things would not bother me. Their valuables I don't covet and my prurient interests can do without intimate knowledge of the sexual habits of fam/friends.

But I am curious about those rooms.
What architecture? What choices of decor? What color schemes? Are there hints of lifestyle choices evident in what they choose to decorate their rooms with?

At any rate -
I do give house tours.

But why?

More than anything, so that my guests feel comfortable and welcome into every room of my home - should they venture here or there for whatever reason, they won't feel awkward for not having stepped in before.

One of the main reasons I show the master bedroom and adjoining bathroom is because we have a two bathroom house, and if the hallway bath is 'in use', I like my family and friends to know the second, master bath - is also available for their use.

I call our house tour the Ten Cent Tour. It's short n' sweet. But I'm so very proud to share, hoping that our home reflects me and the DollinkHubby - and in a good way. Moreover, in the spirit of Welcome to Our Home.

Anyway, who doesn't like a house tour? OK, so there might be a few of you out there who don't give any kind of special hoot when it comes to touring people's homes. You arrive, use the nearest potty (that you're allowed to), plop down on the sofa and commence to playing the latest video games via the TV or worse yet - play with your phone. Ho and Hum to YOUSE!

But me --- I loves me some house tours, due to my natural curiosity about how people live, what they choose to surround themselves with, what aesthetic they utilize to define their surroundings.

With any luck, the homes I am fortunate enough to tour show some personality, and aren't just wishful copies of artfully arranged rooms from photographs that appear in Architectural Digest (no 'dis' on AD, just add some 'people actually live here' elements, puh-leeze!). I think it's great fun to 'play' our personalities into the decorating of our homes, and to express something of who we are with our stuff.

Not everyone does this, but ooooooooh, it's so utterly deliciously delightful when one's home reflects something of the essence of the people who live there.

And they give HouSE tOUrs so we can revel in what's there.

Good, bad or ugly.

Floor People

When it comes to floors, there are basically two kinds of people.

Those who sit on the floor
and those who do not sit on the floor.
The former are Floor People. The latter are - well, they are Not Floor People.

Over the years, I've taken note that quite a number of my relatives and friends don't, won't or can't sit on the floor. I make no judgment, it's just an observation. Those who do sit on floors - on occasion, can also be found lying down on floors (because they want to, not due to passing out).

I enjoy sitting on chairs, sofas and the like, but after a short time, if the conditions are right*, my tendency is to gravitate towards wanting to sit on the floor.

This happens quite frequently. A lot, really. Just about every day.
I lie down on the floor too. But that's only in a super casual setting, if I'm at DollinkDaughterJrS's home, for example. I wouldn't be found lying on the floor in a restaurant or hotel lobby. Unless, as mentioned above, I passed out.

I guess that makes me Floor People (Person).

*To be sure, I'd have to be suitably dressed for floor sitting and said floor should be somewhat clean and not so littered with junky stuff that needs to be moved in order to have space to sit. Oh bother!

Another floor druther:
It really has to be comfy.

Plush surfaces, like wall to wall carpeting, make for a perfect floor sit or lie down. So are large thick area rugs, when smartly (and considerately) placed over hard flooring. Thick tatami is awesome to sit on. Truth be told, tatami is wonderful. When new, tatami smells good too. In Japan, it's a no-no to walk on tatami with shoes on. There is something so civilized about that.

Wood (or bamboo or other wood-like material) and tile floors are uncomfortable to sit or lie down on.
Though they are so very pretty to look at and fun to walk on with clickety clack high heels.
Fine to walk or stand on. And to watch dust bunnies swirl around on.

I've not really experienced cork flooring. Hmmmmm....

And it's been a long time since I've sat on real linoleum. Most lino floors have been replaced with other synthetics, like vinyl. Vinyl is OK to sit on. Not great, though. Lump it in with wood and tile as 'not the best kind of floor to sit on'.

The newish flooring material in my kitchen is a one piece specialty vinyl that has foam integrated into its construction. Not only does its dark brown color hide dirt, but the resilient material gives ever so slightly when walked on, which makes it delightfully sit-able.

On this great-to-walk on/sit upon /lie down on surface, I can sometimes be found supine and happily making 'snow angels'. No, not by myself. I do this with my 4 year old DollinkGrandDaughterLB.

LB is Floor People too.

the jury is in

based on hard evidence -
the jury has determined -
that i am -
indeed -

a hoarder.

as many of you regular readers this blog know --- around here, merge n' purge is the name of the home reorganization game.
this week, i've been pulling even more stuff out of closets/drawers/cabinets --
and been finding myself knee deep. quite.

the majority of these items are things that i have been saving, storing, and have mostly forgotten about over time.
the reality is that i just don't use most of it.
and haven't
for
yes, over a year
and probably won't be incorporating these things anytime too soon
into my everyday living.

there is an awful lot of this stuff.
accumulated over the decades
and
kept
for one good reason or another.
stashed nice and tidy-like.

TIDY-LIKE.

can a hoarder be tidy?

i think yes.
because here i am, tidy as all get out - yet there is this superfluity.

as it is, life in and of itself is already quite full and keeps us pretty busy.
we have love, joy, pain, struggle, elation. and lots more.

then there is stuff.
some of us also have an abundance of it.
material things that accumulate.
we take care of our stuff, cleaning it, repairing it, using it, not using it.
storing, organizing and reorganizing it.
endlessly shifting it about in our homes.

i like my stuff, but after a while, the maintenance of it takes more time and energy than i have to devote to it.
at this point, My Stuff gets to be known as Too Much Stuff.
if Too Much Stuff starts to drag all the livin' down in my day, it's time to move it forward.
which i've been doing.

yet not making much of a dent.

am i a hoarder, albeit a tidy one?

GUILTY
AS
SUSPECTED!

Morning ritual: the kitchen

There is nothing like a ritual,
and each morn, I look forward to my ritual in the home kitchen.

After awakening, I walk, slowly and deliberately - from bedroom into kitchen. Our home is small, so the distance from room to room is a short one, albeit long enough to shake off the sleepies.

After surveying the situation to see if there are any unexpected surprises (a note of 'Hello' or 'Please do this or that today' from HubbyDear, a sink full of dirty dishes that were left unwashed from the night before, a dead mouse lying on the floor...),

I proceed to empty the dish drainer of last night's washing. We have an automatic dishwasher, but with only two people living here day in and day out, it takes a week to fill the machine with dishes enough to warrant running a load. Invariably, there are things we need to use again with a day or two. So usually end up hand washing.

The morning drowsiness completely gives way to wakeful energy as I carefully put the dishes away, sort the cutlery into their proper places in the drawers, hang up the pots and pans. I perform these acts with a very deliberate hand, adding to the purposefulness of the ritual.

Next - is setting up for cooking a bowl of oatmeal.
Rolled oats are ready in 5 minutes, steel-cut takes a lot longer (15 minutes), so I opt for rolled. I take down the sparkling glass container of sugar and the other of dried cranberries. Pull the carton of 2% lactose-free milk from the fridge. Choose the perfect sized bowl and spoon. Measure and pour ingredients, mix together, pop in the microwave. Walk back to the bedroom to make the bed whilst the oatmeal is cooking.
Return to the kitchen to put the finishing touches on breakfast, take the bowl of hot oatmeal to the computer desk and proceed to eat while perusing the internet.

I so look forward to this morning solo dance in the kitchen.
Step by meaningful step.
For such a long time, I viewed this set of actions as a ritual.

This year, as I turn the big 6-0, I'm beginning to view it as 'old people routine'.

Yikes.

image of Morning Sun from istockphoto.com

Winter spring summer or fall ...

I am constantly moving things around our humble abode - shifting and sifting, as it were - the contents of drawers, corners, shelves, closets, what have you. Evaluating and re-evaluating the use and purpose and aesthetic of each and every item.

Organizing, purging aka de-cluttering, rearranging.

It is my lot in life to keep shifting until the shift settles and I'm OK to live with it for awhile. When the spirit moves me again, I rise from my comfy chair to shift again.

This is a year round activity.
Quite enjoyable, actually. For me, anyway.
I gain a fresh perspective after each re-organization.

Striving for balance ~ with the positive/negative visual spaces of my environment.
Simplifying ~ the contents of my home and life.
Sharpening ~ my focus so I can better view my interests/projects.
Achieving ~  restfulness.
Enjoying ~ the contemplation of what is ahead.
Moving, always moving ~ forward.

Good stuff.

eclectic.

e·clec·tic  (-klktk) adj.

1. Selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources, systems, or styles: an eclectic taste in music; an eclectic approach to managing the economy.

2. Made up of or combining elements from a variety of sources.

chic.
+ mixy.
+ artsy.
+ soothing.
+ surprising.
+ playful.
+ cozy.
+ coordinated.
+ organized.
+ practical.
+ joyful.
+ welcoming.
+ homey.
+ cute.
+ beautiful.
these are adjectives I try to keep in mind when arranging my personal living space.

Add 'em up and they spell e-c-l-e-c-t-i-c.

Decades ago, the two words I favored for home decor were Japanese + Simplicity.

Living in a new suburban house in a California subdivision with hubby, two kids, several pets and no extra 'mad money' made that aesthetic all but impossible to achieve. It wasn't long before I accepted that the long dreamed about dining area comprised of a simple, large, low, smooth, shiny, black lacquer table set upon thick and fragrant tatami mats in an otherwise empty room with sliding Shoji screen walls - was not to be my reality. Minimalism was not in the home decor cards for this gal and her brood.

Plus, truth be known - I like 'stuff'.
As much as I can appreciate plain lines and very few knickknacks, severe minimalism isn't 'me'.

From the early years of a-home-in-the-making, eclectic started as, then began to define, my version of decor. In styling our various abodes over the years - found objects, hand-me-downs, poor choices in the purchase of new furnishings, acquisitions of previously abused used this and that - eventually led to a mixed decorative bag. To date, much of the old stuff has been replaced, yet things have remained decidedly mixed though not quite matched - which happened accidentally on purpose.

My hope now is to achieve a status of home that is a sanctuary of traditional, whimsy, artfulness and welcome.
A cute environment that is fun to be in. Cute and Fun are not typical buzz words when it comes to making a house a home. I ask myself 'Is this cute?' 'Is this fun?' Moreover, 'Will potential buyers be turned off by this look when it comes time to sell and move again?!?'

Much excitement can be derived from looking at a website like the one above. In the less obvious areas of a photographed room setting, inspiration lurks. Glimpses of a tabletop or wall-hung vignette of items can trigger decorating ideas with one's own stuff in mind. I truly become excited when I see an unusual set-up of books, or dishes stored in unexpected ways. I also get antsy to rearrange things when I spot beds, sofas, chairs and desks placed at interesting angles to the space. My preference is not the predictable grouping of everyday objects, but something beyond the usual, leaning a tad towards the unorthodox. Perhaps a bit more --- artful?

Such imagery is surprising, and often provides better indication of the homeowner's personality than would copying, 'verbatim' (in the case of the physical, item per item), the decor as laid out on the pages of a home decor magazine.

Spaces created with an emphasis on the dweller's unique world view best tell the stories of those who occupy that space. Much can be ascertained from placement of furnishings, choice of embellishments, the importance given to treasured items and how they are arranged.

Rooms can serve as fanciful shadow boxes, reflecting ideas, wishes and musings.
For those of us who enjoy taking note of individuals in their home environment, seeking out decorative clues that reflect a persona makes for a fascinating study indeed. It fairly tickles my aesthetic sense to do so.

What holds the greatest appeal for me are groupings of personal, practical and pleasing pieces, chosen purposefully and set together with the elements of design in mind. Conversely, an all-pervasive approach to decorating in the usual ho-hum way and applied to an entire home is much too predictable. It does not inspire me in the least.

Big Yawn on Solidly Seriously Staid!

Huzzah Huzzah for Exhilaratingly Excitingly Eclectic!

There are these teeny tiny little bitty...

(not pictured here)

...gnat thingys that can be found inside our house during warmer weather.

I don't even know what they really look like because they only appear as tiny specks to the naked (or aging) eye. These bitty buggies are small enough to fit through the screens on our doors and windows, and they seem to be present in alarming numbers in the summer.

Because they're attracted to the warmth of artificial lighting, there is always evidence of
itsy bitsy gnat-ish bodies - who have flown a bit too close to hot light bulbs and drop dead around our lamps.

These miniscule gnat-ish types don't bite and really aren't much of a nuisance, save for the bother of having to periodically wipe their tiny carcasses off surfaces. The little guys are the least of my buggy concerns.

One of the biggest headaches about living in the forest is that eeeeuuuuuw - there
are so many BUGS. Every dang day, there are creepy crawlies invading inside the house that I use the bug spray on, moooosh with a heavy book - or run screaming from.

There is a plethora (and amazing variety!) of spiders, ants (the biggest black ants I've ever seen stomp across our driveway daily), millipedes, silverfish (a favourite food of California quail) and other Flying Insect-y Things in these forested environs. Even so, living here and dealing with them is a decided improvement over BIG CITY BUGS.

It's been decades, but the memories are yet vivid: of battling fast, sneaky, plotting, evil La Cucaracha in old flats and apartment buildings in San Francisco.
Really and truly...BIG CITY cockroaches...they are the worst.

[shudder]
[double shudder]
[triple shudder]

P.S. We don't have the perimeter of the house sprayed several times a year like some folks around here do (to cut down on the pesty bug population).
Should we?
Would that kill all the beneficial-to-wildlife insects as well as the unwelcome ones?

The Blue Whale

We live in a recreational area.

Nature abounds:
Rivers, lakes, hiking-biking-horsebackriding-dirt bike- trails.
Superb scenic views.
Warm sunshine.
Refreshing cool shade.
Good smells.

Fresh air, clear water, tall pines, bluest sky.
Flora and fauna.
Forest birdies and mid-mountain critters.

Quiet.

So - maybe it's high time to get off our sedentary TV-watching butts and recreate*.

*recreate:
–verb (used with object)

1.	to refresh by means of relaxation and enjoyment, as restore physically or mentally.

–verb (used without object)

2.	to take recreation.

Yeah.

P.S. 'The Blue Whale' aka Necky Manitou II Tandem kayak.

december 31 redux

If this image looks familiar, it's because you saw it last year, on the December 31 2007 post about the package of mochi with a possible $500 + price tag.

I can finally talk about it.
Here's the first part of the story in 25 (or so) words:
Crowded parking lot.
We back car out carefully.
Asshole in another car also backs out.
Fast.
Hits our car.
Dented. Fixed.
We pay $500 deductible.

Here's the second half of the story in another 25 (or so) words:
No Fault.
Yeah, right.
I'm (ahem) 'peeved'.
Last week, insurance company sends $250 check.
$250 + package of mochi-an.
Better than before.
Still too damned expensive!

haghausted

I'm not about to admit defeat - just yet.
But all the merging/purging going on around this house for the past months is - yes - finally - getting to me.

The house is progressing, ever so slowly but surely, into an environment that is a bit more simplified. Things around here are finally making sense. I may soon be able to cook a meal or work on a project without turning the place upside down and inside out looking for the necessary supplies.

The place is looking good.
However, I have become, in the process, rather haghausted.
(hag + exhausted = haghausted)

After I get through the last phase of the First Phase of Re-Organization, I really must address my own physicality.

new year's eve headache

not from eating these.
but.
buying this package might have cost just over $500.

but.
don't ask me about this today.
big headache right now
a new year's eve headache.

maybe.
can talk about it in about two weeks.
maybe.

in the meantime, all else seems to be well.
and.
good things to you in the new year.


yes.
and to all.
a good night.

If in doubt...

...toss it out.

My mantra for today as I clean, reorganize, purge (OMG the endless purge) stuff in the 'laundry area'.

Besides the odd n' end house cleaning products, assorted yucky plastic cups to measure this and that, suspiciously old and useless fabric softeners, etc.....
I came across my 'collection' of candles.

Keep in mind that my mood is not the cheeriest today* as I ask the musical question:

What for - all these miscellaneous votives /candles?
Why keep so many when I only ever so infrequently burn the occasional candle?
At this writing, the large number of votives & candles I have (most as gifts from other people) seem superfluous to my life.
Today they are actually pissing me off.
(*I just paid bills, so am in a pissy mood anyway).

So - candles and votives.
If in doubt. toss it out.
The stinky candles.
The partially-burnt candles.
The faded candles.
The OOOG-LY candles.
The OOOG-LY-ER votives.

Burn 'em or toss 'em or give 'em away.
Simplify.
K.I.S.S.

Goodbye.

Taking inventory

Regarding personal belongings, home decor and lifestyle: many of you know I've been ceaselessly working on simplification of/ re-organization of STUFF. Besides 'fall cleaning' of the home environment, the ultimate goal here is for a healthier happier lifestyle.
Not too shabby a goal, eh whot?

My intentions are sincere and efforts commendable. However, the occasional reality-check-moment reveals that it is unlikely I'll ever achieve the simplicity of my fantasies.

I find a fair amount of organized clutter rather soothing. Looking around at clean (not boring) unobstructed lines in a room is something I can appreciate. So is the joy derived from viewing my belongings (arranged in pleasing-to-gaze-upon vignettes, of course). Singularly or combined, a few of my favourite things (obvious link, but I could not resist) contributes to validating my essence - moreover, defines HOME.

No doubt you've seen DIY Home Improvement shows where a house is 'staged' to be sold. The decor is simplified to the point of losing all personality of the current home dwellers. Hide the photographs, ditto with personal mementos and chotkes. Display fewer dishes in the kitchen cabinets, clean out some food so your larder doesn't looked crammed. Arrange clothes in the closet to make the space look larger. Pick up the dirty laundry, get rid of the kitty litter box (better yet, farm the pets out for the duration!). The place ends up looking like a stripped down hotel or model home. All the better for potential buyers to imagine themselves living there.
But not for day-to-day living.

My mantra is Keep the Personality, but Lose Some of the Clutter.
In the home as well as relationships, I reckon.
Fingers crossed.

Two more difficult to define concepts that are new to me: shibui and iki. Both are applicable to aesthetics, but are actually more descriptive of a way of being.

Ah - so very Zen...that it hurts my poor feeble brain.
It's madness, energy depleting and ultimately futile , but I will continue to strive for A Tad Less is a Lot More.

Tomorrow I will tackle purging my socks/pantyhose. Baby steps to a larger ideal. After I move the colored tights to the Goodwill bag, I'll start working on streamlining my relationships. Whatever that might mean.

Wish me luck. This could take years.

Are we having fun yet?
YES.

No law (or conscience) at all in the wild...

More on seek n' seize hunter gatherers.

To be sure...
birds, squirrels and other hungry forest critters have no qualms about trespassing and foraging in our garden!

Pictured is the state of most of our vine-ripened tomatoes in the last week. Before that, the bounty was exclusive to our picking.

I'm all for the critters getting some, but c'mon little darlins! Save a few (of the good ones) for us!
During this harvest, it's a matter of beating them to get to the vine-ripened tomates first...

(I purposely left this one on the vine. I'm hoping the culprit (s) will finish one fruit entirely before going off and chomping a big hole in all the other ripening tomatoes before I can get to them)

(May have to resort to netting...)

(Our wee garden plot is cordoned off with a chain-link fence, so it wasn't deer or bear...unless they've figured out how to open and close the gate...)

(Hmmmmmmmm...)

fresh fruit free (?)

Last week, a friend and I went for early evening walkies.
During our long (almost 2 hour!) walk, C and I came upon a property that had a huge overgrown peach tree (and a plum tree as well) in the front yard.
Branches laden with ripe fruit spilled over the fence, practically right onto the ground at our feet.

Before C and I saw the fruit, we could smell their heady fragrance.

The photos don't do justice, but as you can see, the fruit had either fallen on the ground or were barely hanging on the branches - ripe for picking.

So why wasn't anyone taking advantage and hauling off with some of that luscious summertime harvest?
More to the point, why wasn't Yours Truly filling the nylon sack (I had one with me, using it as a lightweight purse backpack) - with a bit of that delicious bounty?

Well, because doing so felt like it would be an intrusion/trespassing on private property.

The neighborhood C and I were in - is pristine, affluent, quiet. No residents were out and about, though it's highly possible we could have been watched whilst happening by. We even saw a patrol car making the rounds to secure the area from potential prowler (or peach-pickin'?) types. I suspect that on the eaves of those huge, hillside homes could be found a surveillance camera or two...

It must be stated that I'm a good citizen who is not prone to pilfering on private property. Because I saw no evidence of friendly, handwritten signs stating 'Please pick to your heart's content' 'Fresh fruit - free for the taking' - I withheld my itchy need-to-have-some-of-this-free-fruit-pickin' hand from touching any of it.

Truth be known, I wouldn't have stopped at taking one or two peaches.
If I got going, I had every intention of picking enough to bake one helluva big fat pie.

There was no homeowner (not even a hired gardener!) around to ask for permission. I'm kinda funny that way - even with growing up in the Chinatown 'hood', I need to ask if it's OK before going a-scavenging.

Really, it just didn't seem to be that kind of neighbourhood.
So there. I didn't succumb to my harvesting instinct. Don't think C had a desire, or we could have conspired (one lookout and one picker)?

This week, you can bet that I'm kicking myself thinking about all that tasty fruit gone wasting and rotting away on the ground and on those branches.
Mmmmmmmmm.....and can't stop daydreaming about peach cobblers...plum jam...

Ah well.
Let go and let the wild birds have a field day all-you-can-peck-at buffet.

Guess I'd better get my honest little ass down to a U-Pick farm or to the local green grocer, then.

Smells .... like .... camping

We live here.
Well, very close to here.
Just a 15 minute drive beyond that far hill. Even further into the forest.

In the good ol' summertime, folks from the San Francisco Bay Area drive up thisaway en masse - for sun, fun, swimming, hiking, rafting. Horseback, bike and OHV riding. Communing with nature.
There are rivers, lakes, trails.
Scenic beauty at every turn.
Wildlife.
Fresh air.
Considerably less traffic.

Afternoon temps yesterday hovered in the 90's.
HubbyDear was clearing brush on our property. Working in the morning hours, with plenty of shade from the trees - the physical work was demanding but not too hellish.

I busied myself with 'inside chores', then stepped outside to check on HD's progress (read: make sure he hadn't overexerted himself and passed out there on the ground).
Not to worry. HD was just fine, having worked himself up into a healthy sweat and quite pleased with his progress: pruning, clearing, sweeping and general tidying up of 'our little chunk' of the forest.

Taking care not to stand down breeze (rarely is it windy enough around here to say 'down wind') from his sweat-soaked bod, I took a quick look round, then a gentle whiff - of our great out-of-doors.
I smiled. Nodded.
Stated 'Mmmmmmmmmm.....nice.......smells.....like .... camping'.

Then I turned heel and went back into the air-conditioned house.

On many days and in many ways - - - - - it's SWEEEEEET living here in the woods.

Japanese Simplicity

Early on in feathering the home nest, I often used the term 'Japanese Simplicity'.
My aesthetic vision was to someday live in a place that was deliberately styled and furnished minimally with just the essentials: with the right balance of texture, line and positive to negative shapes. Simple furnishings, all in lovely solid colors accented by a few yummy arty printed textiles and one or two pieces of artwork in a room.

Clean lines. No clutter.

Nice vision, eh?
Well - life got complicated.
Hand-me-down furniture and makeshift became the decorating mode. There wasn't much money to live on (is there ever?), and what little HD and I had was squandered on tasty foodstuffs (nevah evah skimp on food!) and Cost Plus chotkes.
For the longest time, I could not stop buying dishes. And chairs.
(We never really had a lot of matching dishes or chairs/sofas when I was growing up in Chinatown).

There was no escaping the 'house plant craze phase' back in the 70's.
It seemed like everyone, particularly urban apartment dwellers like myself - embarked on weekly hunts for cool houseplants. It was essential to add a bit of nature's greenery to the sterile stark interiors of our citified lifestyles, one little potted plant at a time.

Overnight, a generation of young adults learned the names as well as the light and water needs of dozens of houseplants. Armed with that knowledge as well as mist bottles, plant food, grow lights and macramé plant hangers (!), the collective lot of us turned humble abodes into virtual jungles (and ruined a few hardwood floors with water that runneth over from watering those plants).

Babies entered our lives, and with them - baby paraphernalia.
Soon after, we began to collect and compile years and years of kid's toys.
You can't get too minimalist with kid's toys. Hot pink Barbie furniture and a plethora of My Little Ponies and Star Wars action figures do not blend well with the idea of Japanese Simplicity.

Displaying countless bits and pieces of memorabilia from family/friends also factored heavily into the design mix. Souvenirs from a friend's European backpacking trip set on the mantle alongside old family photos and a Sesame Street toy and mini art trophy I received at high school graduation. Let's not forget about the various candles + votives. Why everything had to be out at the same time was probably due to having No Storage Space. In and of themselves, knickknacks can be so overwhelming.

Throughout the 70's and 80's, I became influenced by patchwork quilts, lace doilies, ruffle-edged pillowcases and curtains, rough-hewn as well as hand-carved golden oak wood, dainty teacups and saucers, pretty prints of chintz and soft textures like velvet, rough surfaces like Navajo rugs.
I've decorated with folk toys, English and Asian teapots, Japanese print fabrics, reproduction wood-cut prints, a cookie jar in the shape of a fanciful rhinoceros.

Well.
You get the picture.
My home decor = modgepodge.

Japanese Simplicity?
It never did happen for me in the 70's, 80's and 90's. The new millenium has brought little change. It looks to continue to be a pretty mixed bag around here, in spite of my occasional decorating purges.
I still appreciate clean lines, but also love homey cottage things and a touch of moderne as well.

Eclectic seems here to stay.

Even so, this week I'm entertaining a great fantasy.
It involves tossing (almost) all the old stuff out and starting anew.
A clean sweep.

HaHa.
Delusion reigns.

multitasking for balance

Whilst 'at the computer' this morn, I ...

1. ate breakfast
   
2. listened to several podcasts
   
3. bought a new music CD
4. knitted on my second Moebius scarf (which I'm turning into a shawl-shrug thingy)
   
5. planned ahead to create my ATCs this afternoon - and mail them out by the end of the weekend (promise!)
6. thought about the book I'll be reading for next month's book club theme: Heritage
7. composed and sent out a few friendly e-mails
8. did some blogging!
   

I'm online for a fair amount of time each day. A bit in the morn, then once again in the late eve.
Mostly I'm planning, reorganizing, summarizing.
Few, if any - of the minutes/ hours is wasted time (even these links aren't complete time-wasters, cuz they're fun).

I spend most days ...
... relishing the sameness of routine.
... making plans to vary and break out of routine.
... reflecting on actions-past and looking towards actions-future.

The computer is a tool that helps me put these elements in order. From here I can get into the groove of some dynamic living.

Today finds me at relative leisure - with many hours to devote to art, craft, music, shopping, thinking, catching up on correspondence, reading and learning. It suits me to jump start my days with sitting at the computer - multitasking until it's time to get out of the chair, up and at 'em.
N-I-C-E

Tomorrow I'll be out and about again.
Exposed to, and coping with - the elements.

Just trying to keep life in balance.

Take Time for Tea

Last Sunday, we took time for tea here at the home of yours truly.

There were 8 of us in attendance for a variation of British tea. Ignoring any hard and fast rules dictating tea-taking, I ended up combining several styles into one rather pleasant afternoon gathering.

Result: A Springtime Tea Party.

We poured our brew into pretty china teacups, ate an assortment of delectable foods and were a most convivial group, spending hours in one another's good company.

Around the communal table, we heralded the arrival of spring, new growth and the continuity of life.

Such a celebration it was!
Absolutely lovely.
Damn good.

We sipped tea and sampled morsels of delicious teatime fare served alongside the requisite scones, lemon curd, rough-cut marmalade, double Devon cream (the real deal!) and berry jam.

Such a mouth-watering array of savouries and sweets!
Not to be believed.
A little over the top. Just the way I like our food parties to be.

We started by tasting dainty spoonfuls of cream of carrot-ginger soup served in wee bowls, then continued on to devour deviled eggs, quiche and other phyllo dough covered pastries, 3 kinds of tea sandwiches (smoked salmon on cream cheese with fresh dill, curried chicken salad, thin cucumber slices with cream cheese), fresh-baked mini cupcakes and slices of rich, moist banana bread, crunchy pea pods stuffed with garlicky goat cheese, flaky palm cookies, delightful petit fours, candied ginger, chocolate pistachio toffee candy and more...

I brewed 5 different flavours of hot tea and served iced tea as well.
There were four different sweeteners (two types of sugar, Splenda and honey), lemon wedges and milk to add to the tea, if desired.

We even had a slop basin for any residual cold tea from our cups (also for spent lemon wedges and the like).

At every place setting was a decorated party favor treat box for each honored guest to take home. The treat box contained an Easter egg (dyed with natural veggie dyes), chocolate eggs and Jelly Belly jelly beans.

Call it High Tea*, if you will - I call it Full Tilt Way Boogie Woogie Big Mama Tea! Preparation was insane: cooking, dicing, slicing, baking, assembling...it took several days to prep!

Setting the table alone required almost an hour's time: choosing the appropriate dishes, washing and drying the pieces...and placing everything 'just so' on the table.

Thank goodness for a little help from my friends. Guests who help are awesome and always most welcome in my kitchen!
Even with much-appreciated assistance, I had no/zero/nada time to take photographs before, during or after the party.
Nary a minute.
A cryin' shame, that is!
Hopefully, guests took pix and will share them before long.

After all was said and consumed and done - the next day - I finally did find a moment to snap a picture of some of the teapots we used before storing them away again.

This year, I have every intention to make it a point to set aside more time for the ritual of a cup of tea (and to share that time with family/friends).

In addition, I'd like to take that tea in a variety of styles.
Tea time is observed by cultures all over the world and I hope to interpret and stage my version of a few of those traditions here in the sweet comfort of home-sweet-home.

Hmmmm.....think I'll write up a menu featuring different tea styles for my little Tea Time Corner of the dining room (really and truly, there is such a designated area).
Will include English-style tea time ~ and more.

Y'all come over for a cuppa sometime soon, OK?
(Do bring something to add to our tea time - I ain't doin' all the woik no mo'!)

* Interestingly enough, 'High Tea' (aka 'Meat Tea') was what the English working class had as their evening meal and 'Low Tea' was enjoyed by the well-to-do as an afternoon picker-upper (on a low table).

That does it!

I guess the next move will be to #$@^&?^!!!*&%$#^!? Butte, Montana!

There's some truly wonderful things about living rural: spacious countryside, peace and quiet, natural surroundings right outside your door, lots of free parking, little road traffic, no crowds....
spacious countryside, peace and quiet, natural surroundings right outside your door, lots of free parking, little road traffic, no crowds....
(Oooooh, am I already repeating myself?)

Anyways.
Butte might be as good as it gets as far as small rural towns (in the U.S.A.) + recognition of local Chinese history + the celebration of Chinese New Year.

Hmmmmm....Montana.....Big Sky Country.....mebbe get a thousand acres with a little (or little bit bigger) log cabin on it....
Ah - to be able to step out of my humble rural abode and into town every year at this time - to see a FESTIVE CNY PARADE.

Even if it does take standing in the DAMNDEST FREEZING COLD to witness it.