Happy to say, I'm not guilty of any of the cliches of good taste as reported in this NYTimes article and slide show.
No vintage typewriter ,monogrammed towels or taxidermy in my house!
Showing posts with label home sweet home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home sweet home. Show all posts
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Everything's gonna be alright.
So tonight, as I cuddled and coddled at bedtime, and quieted worries about strong winds and metro doors shutting a millisecond too soon, I was preoccupied with the scope and cost of some structural work that I will need to do on my house. And not all that sure that the wind wouldn't in fact huff and puff and blow the house down.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
A blogging tear
I seem to be on a blogging tear here...:-) Did you notice? ;-)
I'm just so happy to have a normal weekend. Five of the last six weekends have been taken up by travel for work and for play - to Philadelphia, Guatemala, Disney World, Philadelphia (2), and Portland. I forget what kind of toll that takes, until I'm finally sitting down again on a lazy Saturday at home. Laundry, blogging, cleaning, cooking, a walk and cultural fair with Dear Daughter, seeing friends, and a swim. And my mind is quiet and happy, my thoughts take a leisurely stroll around my head. Time to relax, time to reflect. And a little blogging. Oh, little blog, how I've missed you. xo.
I'm just so happy to have a normal weekend. Five of the last six weekends have been taken up by travel for work and for play - to Philadelphia, Guatemala, Disney World, Philadelphia (2), and Portland. I forget what kind of toll that takes, until I'm finally sitting down again on a lazy Saturday at home. Laundry, blogging, cleaning, cooking, a walk and cultural fair with Dear Daughter, seeing friends, and a swim. And my mind is quiet and happy, my thoughts take a leisurely stroll around my head. Time to relax, time to reflect. And a little blogging. Oh, little blog, how I've missed you. xo.
Professional Urban Grrl's No-Sweat Triathalon
Sportswear: Black leggings, black wool tunic sweater, black ballet flats, teal double-breasted spring trench (Pool: black swimsuit, black swim cap, pink goggles)
Getting to the starting line: Leave work in taxi with colleague for an in-transit meeting.
Start: Union Station
1st Leg (Walk) - Walk and talk with colleague heading north on North Capitol Street, part company at H Street. Hang a right. Cross bridge over train tracks. Admire spring day - low humidity, temperature in the low-seventies, late daylight (it's already six-thirty! and the light gives everything a spring-pink glow). Arrive on the other side of tracks - H Street NE, the edgy in-neighborhood with bars, restaurants, and coffee shops, with a hip-hop-city-punk-funk vibe. Recall the previous evening in one such establishment with friends and drinks. Make note to self to hang out there more, and check out some of the new places.
2nd Leg (Bike) - Grab a Capital Bikeshare bicycle. Place black work bag on the front carrier, and secure with neato fitted bungee cord. Unbutton trench coat for ease of moment, and for cool teal trailing effect while riding. Board bike, and head south on 4th Street NE past lovely, historic, restored rowhouses. Note buds on trees giving a light fuzzy green- or sometimes rose-, colored glow of their early leaves. Note beautiful spring gardens in postage-stamp front yards - tulips, daffodils, and blazing yellow forsythia. Zig-zag through the neighborhood streets towards Eastern Market - going past more lovely house, small city parks full of dogs, kids, and friendly neighbors cavorting in the early evening, brought together by their shared community and the pleasant spring evening. Arrive at Eastern Market, and park bike in the CaBI bike dock.
Pit Stop - Enter Marvelous Market for a bottle of water and pack of soy nuts. Sit outside on the french cafe chairs. Check iPhone for messages. Greet and chat with neighbor MS.
3rd Leg (Swim) - Enter public pool facility, and change into swimwear. Shower quickly, and enter pool for 30 minutes of laps. Breathe in, breathe out. Let head roll out its day. Marvel in the head-clearing power of exercise. Chat with lanemate about water temperature - a tad cooler than lately. Exit pool, shower, change.
Homeward Bound - Grab a CaBi bike for the short ride to the next docking station. Walk remaining three blocks.
Finish: Home. Greet Dear Daughter, read books, snuggle, and wish sweet dreams.
Spring training never felt so good.
Getting to the starting line: Leave work in taxi with colleague for an in-transit meeting.
Start: Union Station
1st Leg (Walk) - Walk and talk with colleague heading north on North Capitol Street, part company at H Street. Hang a right. Cross bridge over train tracks. Admire spring day - low humidity, temperature in the low-seventies, late daylight (it's already six-thirty! and the light gives everything a spring-pink glow). Arrive on the other side of tracks - H Street NE, the edgy in-neighborhood with bars, restaurants, and coffee shops, with a hip-hop-city-punk-funk vibe. Recall the previous evening in one such establishment with friends and drinks. Make note to self to hang out there more, and check out some of the new places.
2nd Leg (Bike) - Grab a Capital Bikeshare bicycle. Place black work bag on the front carrier, and secure with neato fitted bungee cord. Unbutton trench coat for ease of moment, and for cool teal trailing effect while riding. Board bike, and head south on 4th Street NE past lovely, historic, restored rowhouses. Note buds on trees giving a light fuzzy green- or sometimes rose-, colored glow of their early leaves. Note beautiful spring gardens in postage-stamp front yards - tulips, daffodils, and blazing yellow forsythia. Zig-zag through the neighborhood streets towards Eastern Market - going past more lovely house, small city parks full of dogs, kids, and friendly neighbors cavorting in the early evening, brought together by their shared community and the pleasant spring evening. Arrive at Eastern Market, and park bike in the CaBI bike dock.
Pit Stop - Enter Marvelous Market for a bottle of water and pack of soy nuts. Sit outside on the french cafe chairs. Check iPhone for messages. Greet and chat with neighbor MS.
3rd Leg (Swim) - Enter public pool facility, and change into swimwear. Shower quickly, and enter pool for 30 minutes of laps. Breathe in, breathe out. Let head roll out its day. Marvel in the head-clearing power of exercise. Chat with lanemate about water temperature - a tad cooler than lately. Exit pool, shower, change.
Homeward Bound - Grab a CaBi bike for the short ride to the next docking station. Walk remaining three blocks.
Finish: Home. Greet Dear Daughter, read books, snuggle, and wish sweet dreams.
Spring training never felt so good.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Freedom
Tonight, as I came in from fireside drinks with dear old friend, M, and I realized NO ONE was at home. NO ONE will be here for at least the next 24 hours. Dear Daughter is with Dear ex-Husband, and au pair has flown off to Chicago for the holidays. The house is empty, and ALL MINE. I own this house - as much as anyone really can own their house in the United States of America - that is, the bank and I own this house, with lots of equity, and an affordable mortgage payment - which is good enough. My obligations are all my own...I am only responsible for myself here and now. I walked in the door, stripped off my clothes, and made lots of noise. Tomorrow I will wake up, and make myself some good strong coffee, and take as long, as hot a shower as I please. I will fart to my heart's content. This is freedom for this single working mom, folks. Freedom plain and simple.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Fabulous real estate!!
Once again, the NYTimes has written an article just for me - Who Lives There - Making a Home in a Pyramid 462 Feet Above Seattle. This one is on the space and its inhabitants of a 2-story, 1700+ ft2 pyramid apartment atop the Smith Building in downtown Seattle.
The common living space - LR, DR, K - sits on the second floor of the apartment, while the nook-like bedrooms sit on the first floor. Built-in shelves and window seats house books and eclectic collectibles (like empty bottles of Moet & Chandon from the last party with U2) or a small child reading on cushions framed in a cathedral-like window. Smallish, triangular windows dot the sloping walls, letting in light, and each one frames a unique cityscape. Structural innards are exposed. A catwalk and narrow spiral staircase lead to the "Globe" - a glass enclosed observation room with a 365-degree view of the city from 40 stories high! Here's the slide show.
Quite quirky - and no thanks, I wouldn't live there - but fun to imagine nonetheless.
The common living space - LR, DR, K - sits on the second floor of the apartment, while the nook-like bedrooms sit on the first floor. Built-in shelves and window seats house books and eclectic collectibles (like empty bottles of Moet & Chandon from the last party with U2) or a small child reading on cushions framed in a cathedral-like window. Smallish, triangular windows dot the sloping walls, letting in light, and each one frames a unique cityscape. Structural innards are exposed. A catwalk and narrow spiral staircase lead to the "Globe" - a glass enclosed observation room with a 365-degree view of the city from 40 stories high! Here's the slide show.
Quite quirky - and no thanks, I wouldn't live there - but fun to imagine nonetheless.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Menu: Springtime Sunday Supper
Inspired by a similar supper at LG and BL's Paris apartment. Great friends, great food, great light streaming through very large windows.
White Pizza
- with caramelized leeks and spring peas
Beetroot Salad
- with crunchy carrots and walnuts
Dessert
Assorted beverages on offer
- Beer, wine (red, rose and white), G&T, etc.
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