Of Cats and Decor

I love decor. And I love cats. But sometimes the two don't mix.

A few days ago, my lovely cat Zuzu engaged in one of her favorite activities - leaping 5 feet from a chair to the dining room table. Fortunately, her claw marks have only added to the table's weathered charm, thanks to some clever use of stain by me. Unfortunately, on the evening in question, she caught a claw in the table runner. I turned just in time to see the runner, two ceramic birds, newly acquired bird cage, and cat go overboard.

Miraculously, one of the birds survived...

as did the bird cage (pictured here in its new location)...



So, the table runner is tucked away in the linen closet. A quick shopping trip ensued, and I came home with the grey ceramic bird pictured between the candlesticks above. So all is well.

Oh, and Zuzu continues her acrobatics between the chair and the table. Cats are lovely, but I do question their sense of priorities sometimes.

Spring!

Outside, it looks like winter. With a dusting of new snow to start the season, it's hard to believe that spring is finally here.

Over the last week and a half, the world has looked like a gloomy place. With the images from Japan and now Libya, it's been difficult to think about much positive. And yet I'm reminded about the power of hope.

Eleven years ago last Thursday, I was diagnosed with a deadly form of cancer. A few days later, as I recovered in my hospital room, a volunteer brought in daffodils, in celebration of the American Cancer Society's Daffodil Days. So, to counteract all that seems dim, I now have a small daffodil plant blooming on my desk, courtesy of this year's ACS Daffodil Days.

During my 3 years of treatment, I sometimes wondered if there would be joy again in my life. Happily, there has been. So, I offer the picture of these daffodils as a small ray of sunshine, a sign that joy and beauty are not lost. The world will smil again - not today, maybe not tomorrow. For now, we can enjoy little things - and savor what is special to us.

Weekend Projects

Some people play golf. (I do too, occasionally.) Some people go hiking. (I can be persuaded, when it's really nice out.) Some people laze around on the couch. (Perhaps I'll learn how to one day.) But my favorite weekend activity is working on decorating projects around the house. Soon, I'll be heading out to the garden, to try to coax what is now mud and ice (mostly mud) into something pleasing. So, I'm trying to get to some of my decor wish list now.

This past weekend, I tackled two projects.

First, was the floor lamp. Oh, it was nice enough, but really too dark for the living room. So, in preparation for painting it with grey pebble finish spray paint, I took to it with some 220 grit sandpaper. I was stunned to find a lovely nickel finish under the dark brown paint. The more I buffed, the lovelier the lamp became. Happy with the look after the sanding, I decided to forego the grey paint altogether!

The second project was to recover a leather os de mouton chair. It had been relegated to my studio/craft room in the basement. So with staple gun and screwdriver in hand, I transformed it so that it now fits nicely into my livingroom.

The one project remaining for the room is to sew white linen slipcovers for the sofa and chair. I'm still stalling on that one because I'm not a great seamstress. Straight lines for curtains are easy. But easing to sew curved edges is just beyond me. Perhaps I'll just save my pennies and have a professional make them.

As for this weekend - who knows?

The Power of Music

It's been a very long and hectic week. I needed a little slice of joy. At just the right moment, one of my co-workers, who shares my affinity for music, suggested I listen to Bobby McFerrin's Ave Maria on youtube. I recommend you put on your headphones and give it a listen. It must have been amazing to be in that audience.

That reminded me of a flash mob version of Handel's Hallelujiah chorus. Whether one is religious or not, these pieces are so inspiring.

Then, for a change of pace, I listened to Manhattan Transfer's Birdland.

And, speaking of birds, I'm reminded of the story from Daniel J. Levitin's This is Your Brain on Music. He explains how one can make an owl’s bones vibrate such that the entire owl resonantes with Strauss’s “Blue Danube Waltz.” (It has to do with overtones. To oversimplify, you play aspects of the piece, removing some essential portions of notes and the bird's bones fill in the rest.)

Since reading this book, which I recommend, I've referred to myself as having owl bones because my love of music is that deeply rooted in me.

I hope you enjoy the pieces I've shared and found some joy in music today.