Well, the clutter is gone. How did it happen? My sister Meg, showed up, that’s how. She called on Friday, just to chat. I started to whine about not knowing where to start with all the clutter in my house, and she was in her car and on her way here from Massachusetts before I could even hang up the phone. Meg is one of those organized people. I’ve often thought that she was a little bit OCD with the tidiness and orderliness, but it turns out that she’s just tidy and orderly. And she LOVES tidying and organizing others. Or so she said. Maybe it was just to make me feel better.
Ann Leary, author of The Good House
Author of The Good House
Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty
August 30, 2009 by 34 Comments
Photo by Moses Pendleton
On Thursday, as many of you know, I was in a bit of a funk about the condition of my house. It’s just that I was away for much of the summer and then, when I returned, I saw all the work that needs to be done. When you live in a house everyday, you don’t see the clutter. Or at least I don’t. So, I was sort of spinning wheels, moving piles of books from one place to another, muddling over whether or not to keep a pair of old tights or throw them away, when I got a call from the Pendleton-Quinn household. Would I like to come over for tea? There was something so wonderful and childishly rebellious about running outside when I was supposed to be cleaning my room – running off to play with my friends. Well, it was a beautiful, beautiful afternoon, too nice a day to be doing housework!
I’m Supposed to Be Purging
August 27, 2009 by 60 Comments
My house is full of clutter. Monday a contractor comes to do some measuring for some work that needs to be done. Today, I’m supposed to be cleaning/throwing stuff away. Instead, have spent the day on the computer.
I just posted this on Huffington Post.
Now closing the laptop. Bye-bye.
Search Me
August 27, 2009 by 22 Comments
I am able to check the “stats” on this blog – the number of “Hits” and “Sessions” and “Page Views,” and though I can’t see who exactly is reading the blog, I can see which countries they are reading it from, what time of day most people read, how much time people spend on each page, etc. I really can’t be bothered with stuff like that so I only check the stats every single day. The minute I wake up.
A Work in Progress
August 26, 2009 by 11 Comments
Here’s Daphne working on the new pool. It’s really coming along.
Apparently the whole idea was inspired by a small, burrowing rodent.
Surprise!
August 25, 2009 by 34 Comments
I arrived home today and caught the girls hard at work. They had wanted to surprise me but I arrived home too early. They’re building us a new swimming pool! Will photograph giant hole tomorrow.
She’s “Special”
August 24, 2009 by 50 Comments
As promised yesterday, I will now tell the true story of how our dog, Lulu, the St. Bernard/Airdale mix almost died after eating a portion of our driveway this summer. But first, a few words about Lulu.
I have blogged about Lulu before, more than once. Oh and here’s a good one. But I have purposely not told you the whole truth about her. The reason I haven’t shared this is because there’s really no nice way of saying it and I don’t want all the dog lovers here to get all upset and call me mean and cruel.
I’m On HuffPo!
August 20, 2009 by 22 Comments
You know how some of you suggested I send my last blog to HuffPo? Well, I did. And…it’s up! It’s here!
I guess it’s important to get a lot of comments so let’s move the party over there. Please? I’m begging now.
And Now For Something Completely Different
August 19, 2009 by 64 Comments
I don’t think that Britain asked to be involved in our national debate over healthcare reform, but recent comments from certain members of congress, such as Republican Paul Broun of Georgia who claims that the UK and Canada “don’t have the appreciation of life as we do in our society, evidently,” have put some Brits on the defensive about their National Health Service. In fact, a recent “trending topic” on Twitter (I know, I promised to stop hanging out there) was “We love the NHS”. Thousands of British citizens felt compelled to defend their health service, on, Twitter, from the likes of Representative Broun and Sarah Palin. I don’t know what personal experience Congressman Broun has with Britain’s NHS, but I’d like to share ours.
Birdland
August 18, 2009 by 45 Comments
So, I’ve been on Twitter for a few weeks now, and I’m happy to report, to those of you not yet there, that it’s a rather silly place to pass the time. It’s also a sort of a sad commentary on our society that some people feel compelled to tweet every little thought that strays into their TV-soaked, ADHD addled, 21st century brains. Who has the time for this nonsense?
Well, I do.
