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Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Scenes from My Ordinary Life

I haven't had a lot to write about lately, but I thought today I'd share a couple of images.

My office is a little cubby under the stairs, not quite as small as where Harry Potter had to sleep because there is a bay that bumps out and makes room for my desk.  I bought the desk around 1984 at a little hole-in-the-wall antiques store in Chicago called Clyde's.  It was painted red and black.  The top had been stripped, but the wood was badly stained, so Clyde had given up on stripping it and sold it to me for $50.  It's kind of small (only 42 inches wide) and one drawer is falling apart, but it's been with me a long time.  I feel kindly toward my old desk, and it fits perfectly in this space.  Plus the stained top doesn't bother me since I very rarely see the top anyway.  The little green table came from Ikea unfinished.  I painted it to match the fabric shades I made.  I'm glad you can't see how wonky and crooked the bias tape edging is on the shades.

Anyway, the point of this seemingly pointless story is not what my office looks like, it's the two windows on the sides of the bay.  Late this summer, gnats got wedged in the screens. Whether they got stuck there and died or simply came there to die, kind of like a gnat hospice, I don't know, but last week I was sitting at my desk, and two goldfinches* decided to snack on the dead gnats.  The birds clung to the screens and walked up and down, picking out the gnats as I sat a mere three feet away.  I had never seen anything quite like that.

*Update Oct. 24:  I've just learned from my very knowledgeable bird-watching brother-in-law that these are not goldfinches at all!  They are migrating yellow rumped warblers in fall plumage.  I'm glad to be able to correct my error.  The things you can learn by blogging!

The final image I thought I'd share is a sunset over the prairie.  Yesterday evening we were walking Alfie in the prairie as the sun went down.  The few clouds and jet trails made for an interesting sky.


46 comments:

  1. Love you writing Lynette, simple and charming. The windows flanking your desk are so priceless, wish I had windows myself, but we live in a basement, the price for urban living, I guess. The birdies just beautiful! And that last picture, WOW, look at that sky. You are lucky in your own special way!

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  2. Even though you say this post is not supposed to be about your office, I will focus on that. First, love the greens, my favorite color. Also loving those shades. Could you please instruct me as to how to construct those? Our bedroom windows are in desperate need of window coverings and I've been thinking roller shades covered with fabric but have been afraid to try this since I have no clue. Currently cardboard cut-outs are placed into the windows every night. How pathetic is that? I want something that totally blocks out light. Could you email me or post directions here?

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    1. Audrey, your comments come through as a no-reply blogger, and I am having trouble finding your email address on your blog.

      To make a shade, I took the vinyl off a roller shade and saved the cardboard tube/end plugs. I used two layers of fabric because I wanted a white lining on the street side. The fabric was cut the same size (or just a hair narrower) as the cardboard part of the original shade. I fused the two pieces of fabric together with fusible webbing. I also zig zagged them across the top to prevent fraying. I sewed bias tap along the side and bottom edges for a more finished look, but I think some people just put fray stop along the edges. I sewed a pocket for the stick at the bottom. I then hot glued the shade to the cardboard rollers, using as thin a bead of hot glue as I could to keep it from getting bulky. I used home dec fabric, but it is awfully thick when rolled up and is actually kind of hard to roll back up. Lighter weight fabric would probably work more smoothly, although you say you need light blocking. Omitting the bias tape would help to reduce the bulk. Let me know if you decide to make any. I'd be curious how they turn out for others.

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    2. Thanks for the instructions. I will email you so you have my email address since I don't have a public one. No wonder you couldn't find it, huh?

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  3. I love your sweet little office space. I would feel so cozy there. I think the gold finch photos are priceless. I would have been fascinated to watch them.

    Hugs,
    Laura

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  4. What a great little office space! And how lovely to have the wee birdies pecking away right there.
    xx

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  5. Oh, I loved this post. What a charming place to have your desk. The shades are beautiful as is the stained glass. I love goldfinches and I can't imagine what a treat it was for them to be so close to you. I love to see where fellow bloggers work. Enjoy your day. That is a gorgeous shot of the sky over the prarie.

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  6. oh my, I love your little cubby space...what a great hideaway.
    Debbi
    -yankeeburrowcreations

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  7. beautiful sky, there seems to have been quite a few like that recently. Your office space is great and at least you get to look out of the windows too

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  8. So nice of the birds to clean your screens! Send them my way!! Love your desk -- I have a similar one, like an office desk but with drawers only on one side. I love it and use it as a sewing and craft table!

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  9. Okay, just got to say that I love the stain glass hanging above your desk. What glorious inspiration! And, how's that screen for recycling - I'm sure the birds are grateful. -- Jan

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  10. Goodness, that last image is certainly something else. How lucky you are to experience that on a average day. Thanks for sharing, liz

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  11. I love the look of your little office. How lovely of those birds to come and clean your screens! Very helpful. And that twilight image on the prairie is so serene and peaceful looking xx

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  12. I wish I had an office... I work wherever I can!!! I definetely will think about that when we decide to change

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  13. Nice and cozy office space. I would probably drift off daydreaming out the window. So funny that the birds cleaned up the gnats.
    Love the sunset. They have been so pretty lately. I saw a rainbow last night.

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  14. Love the shades you made...pretty fabric and the sunset is beautiful! Maybe I need to write about my life too....but I don't think anyone wants to read about me sitting here in some old navy cords I got at Goodwill trying to stretch them out a bit before wearing them to work tomorrow! I am watching the sunset too and the sky is a crisp cloudless blue.

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  15. The first thing I noticed about your office in the photo were the windows on either side of your desk. How nice to have a view! What a beautiful sunset to enjoy during your walk. Now I'm off to check out the vegetable beef soup I see.
    Have a great evening.

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

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  16. Enjoyed the pictures. It's nice to peek inside the writer's life. I think our desks are such an important part of our lives because we seem to get so much accomplished there for business, home office, and just plain fun!

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  17. I love cozy nooks .... and yours looks perfect!

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  18. It's so nice to have your own space, and yours looks so cosy. Ha ha, laying on a feast for the birds :) x

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  19. I just found your blog, when visiting Flea Chic and I am hooked. You have created a lovely site . . . Your office area may be small, but it makes up for it in charm. I absolutely love the windows on each side . . . what a great view. I'm a wife, mother, grandma, artist, junker, and re-purposer, living in the Pacific Northwest, but I was raised only 60 miles from Chicago in Michigan City, IN. Do you know this town? I'm your newest follower and I hope that you will become a mutual follower, too. I love making new friends and sharing ideas. Oh, and by the way . . . you picked the cutest name for your site, I love it! Have a marvelous week . . . hope to hear from you.
    Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  20. Gorgeous sunset! Your office area is so sweet. I love the stained glass window.

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  21. Great little nook! And that sunset is gorgeous! Alfie must love running around out there!
    -Shelley

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  22. The photo of the sunset is magazine worthy. Just beautiful!

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  23. Thank you for your sweet comment on my kitchen door re-do and thank you for following my blog. I get so excited each time I get a new follower. The weekend is almost here and I hope that yours if filled with good times and loving friends and family. I'm looking forward to getting to know you better.
    Your new blogging sister, Connie :)

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  24. What a lovely spot. I could spend a lot of time there. That is pretty cool the way the birds are cleaning up your screens for you. Nature can be so funny sometimes.
    Oh, and gorgeous sunset! Nice capture!

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  25. Weird about the gnats but hey, at least you had free screen cleaners haha

    Love your office by the way, especially that stained glass piece about the computer -how beautiful!

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  26. Beautiful sunset picture. It is so calm and I love watching birds.

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  27. Well, I like your little nook, the desk, the windows. It looks so cozy. And oh, my goodness! That was really a treat to get to see the birds! I'd have loved that. I love to watch birds up close, but prefer something between us. They terrify me when they flap their wings too close to my face. Your situation was perfect.

    I had to grin about not seeing the top of your desk much. I rarely see mine, either. That just means we're busy, intelligent and right brained. :-)

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  28. A breathtakingly beautiful sunset photo. You have a quite cozy and lovely office.

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  29. Looks like we have similar size spaces :) at least you can get some close up shots of birds!

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  30. I love your "gnat hospice" comment. I also love that two birds came to snack on the dead gnats.

    Circle of life. Circle of life!

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  31. What a fantastic sunset picture!! And I love your office - those windows - wow!!
    Thanks
    Angie

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  32. I like your little office space...for me anything larger would get really crowded out, with a small space we utilize every inch. The desk is the perfect size, too. Our office is very small, too. I don't use it since I have a laptop, but my hubby and college age daughter are in there a lot. It used to be a second kitchen in our 1940's home, how they managed moving around in it leaves me to wonder!

    These are great pictures through the window and I love the sunset picture. I am in Illinois, too, but have to get out into the country to get any good sky pictures!

    I hope you have a great weekend. I love your blog and am a follower now. Thanks so much for stopping by!

    XO,
    Jane

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  33. That is an absolutely beautiful sunset photo. Quite picturesque. I hope you enjoy your weekend!

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  34. Hi there,
    I just came across your blog and now I am your newest follower. Wonderful story about your desk. It is quite nice and perfect for the space you have available.
    I will stop by again here for more, soon.
    Enjoy your weekend!
    Greetings, Heidi

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  35. Crazy birds! Perhaps dessicated gnat is a great delicacy if you're a finch!

    Your little desk-ful corner is just perfect :)

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  36. What a breath-taking sunset photo. Love the colors and can just imagine looking forward to taking my dog (if I had one) for a walk to enjoy such a sight.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog to say hello. I hope you have a great weekend.
    Carla

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  37. Hi There, Crazy birds!!!! Aren't they just SO entertaining? I have feeders on my deck --so can sit and watch the birds for hours and hours.... SO much fun!!!!!

    Gorgeous sunset... I love it when the sky gets that color.... Awesome!!

    Love your little office space.... Cute!!!
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  38. Hi Lynette, Thanks for your comment on my blog. Spencer doesn't get too nervous when I'm rearranging but he does tend to look a bit exasperated! I loved your photos and I really like the fabric on your shades (we call them blinds) It took me a while to work out what you were referring to as I was looking for light shades in your photo! Your office looks like a nice cosy space. Maggie xx

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  39. That's a nice cozy office cubby. Love the green table too. Awesome photo of the sunset. =)

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  40. your office looks just right..bet the finches were delightful to watch!!
    and wow...what a sunset!!!

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  41. Gorgeous!!! And that's pretty cool that you got to watch such an unusual scene!

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  42. Wonderful photo of the sunset. You live in a lovely spot too!

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  43. I love your office space! Bird watching is so much fun--cool for the correction. Sunsets in the fall and winter are some of my favorites.

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