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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Where do you Blog? Some things are better left unknown.

On September fourth, Hoover Boo over at Piece of Eden asked bloggers, "Where do you blog?' "What is your view?" and "Does anyone stare?"  She and several other bloggers have been sharing images of their tastefully decorated, clutter free work areas or just various gorgeous spots in their homes where they comfortably sit with their laptops.  Being more of a curmudgeon and following the example of Andy Rooney http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-3445_162-2405083/being-messy-has-its-perks/ my space is kind of full of stuff.
 
This computer desk looks like an armoire when it's closed and we got it with the thought that we could do just that when company came by.  Now it's so crammed with stuff that it takes a major reorganization  just to get the side doors to close a little. 


I know this is scary for many of you so if you cannot abide clutter and are in constant fear that if you don't throw everything away as soon as you can, you'll be featured on "Hoarders," I'll totally understand if you read no further  or perhaps avert your eyes.   This is my view to my left.
On my right, I look out through the  gaps between the various stained glass panels to see the Paulownia tomentosas in my parking strip.
 
Who stares?  Well, there's Stryder who is usually curled up on one side of my feet.  (All the dogs came with their names FYI.)

Henny Penny (we call her Chocolate)  is usually curled up on the other side of my feet.

Rigby is usually to my far left side and will start to bark at me if I spend too much time not paying attention to him.

Sarah Sue sits behind the chair and periodically brings squeaky toys in from the other room for me to throw for her.  If  I get too involved in the blog and don't pay attention to her, there will be a big pile of toys behind me .
 
This one doesn't so much stare as come in and chat with me.


Well, gotta go throw a toy for Sarah Sue or there'll be hell to pay! 
 
Now it's your turn to share. Where do you blog?  What is your view? Does anyone stare?

44 comments:

  1. dear og, I love your cluttery style, and all that leadlight. And those cute dogs! I had to look twice to make sure they were real, not toys. Pomerians? Rigby and Sarah Sue will be helpful because we're not supposed to sit in the same place too long without moving, so you're less likely to get RSI than I am with only one dog that doesn't usually demand anything of me except my nearness.

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    1. They are Pomeranians. I would also have larger dogs but we live in town (small garden space) and It's only fair that larger dogs have space to run and someone keeps ripping up lawn and putting in beds in my garden so there's little space to exercise.

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  2. You post your blog so early, I thought you would show a messy unmade bed...that would be mine! Those 5 little faces are so adorable !

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    1. They're pretty special to me! I actually usually do my posts the night before but schedule the publish time for the next morning so that the time is consistend.

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  3. The doggies are adorable, but for some reason I thought you had five. I used to be a dreadful clutter-bug/hoarder of stuff, but I threw a lot away when we moved, and have really tried since then not to back-slide.

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    1. Moving across the country would really help one get rid of a lot of things that are kept around just in case they're ever needed.

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  4. OK, so the desk really made me twitch but the stained glass windows and comfy Victorian charm made up for it. I'm just getting wind of this blogging project. What fun!

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    1. It is fun and I've often wondered where the bloggers who I read write their posts.

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  5. The layers of cool things in your home are just amazing. I think I could spend an entire day in just one room and still not take everything in. Great photos of your doggies too, their personalities came through even in head shots!

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    1. I enjoy looking at interesting things but the layers sometimes keep one from being able to fully appreciate individual things. My interior is just like my garden - Too much interesting stuff.

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  6. Looks like a lovely setting for blogging and the dogs are precious.

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    1. I enjoy being there in my nest of papers, books and stuff with the cute puppies.

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  7. Hahaha, so funny!! My house tends to look that way too many times. Wait! I can see I also have that huge "Botanica" book!

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    1. Isn't that a great book? So many color pictures & plant descriptions.

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  8. You are in good company. I saw an interview with Paul Krugman in his office and it was impossible to make out the furniture beneath unruly piles of papers and books. Your space looks well organized by comparison, and he was flaunting in on national TV.

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  9. I want to live in this room. Wonderful! I can't believe you can post every day with all those sweet faces begging for attention.

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    1. It is hard not to spend all of my time playing with the puppies! Maybe I'll start posting 3 times a week and play with the dogs more. They'd like that!

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  10. How absolutely precious! I love this story and your most inspiring space to write a wonderful blog. Cozy, comfy and just loved.

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    1. Thanks for the kind words Linda. A house is not a home unless you can write "I Love You" in the dust!

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  11. Your blog room has great character; fun and interesting trinkets to look at. I hope the snake isn't real and that the one featured last doesn't curl up at your feet... it could get a bit crowded down there.

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    1. The snake is a 3d wood puzzle which has a bulge in it's body. When taking the puzzle apart, you'll find a mouse inside that bulge. Lots of fun.

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  12. LOVE. Will have to make a post of my own about this later this month.

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    1. Glad you like it Ann and can't wait to see your post. Congratulations on your new name!

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  13. Thanks for sharing your space, partner, and pups! I like it, everything about it. I blog in the basement, share the space with a pup and a partner, and my space is "cluttered" too, but I'm comfortable with my clutter as well. I'll have to post answers to your questions, so there are pics. Maybe, maybe not. Put it on my "to do" list, anyway!

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  14. Okay....Y'all have the cutest dogs in the universe! What kind are they? Chocolate needs to be on one of those cute and funny greeting cards! Either that, or she reminds me a little of that character on SNL ...Gillie with that face! They are all precious :)

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    1. Glad you like the goofy pups! They're Pomeranians. Chocolate does look like Gillie with that goofy face but she's the most well behaved of the dogs and mostly wants to cuddle. Sarah Sue, on the other hand, would pull all kinds of Gillie-like pranks if she only had opposable thumbs.

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    2. OMG, Mr. Herbst! I FB'd you and thought it was interesting that you kept posting this blogger to your profile. Imagine my surprise when I "clicked" on it and your blog came up. I will have to spend some time "clicking" around on your blog. It looks amazing, humorous, and interesting -- just like you! Do you still sing? I can't hear "O'Holy Night" without thinking about you. I think you blew the Skagway Presbyterian Choir away that Christmas. It looks like you are well, happy, and loving life with your (VERY) cute partner and (ENOMOUSLY) cute pups! And I would love to visit your home with so many layers of things u can't live without. I think it's a Skagway thing! Margo Meyer

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    3. How wonderful to hear from you Margo! Thanks for the kind words. Yes, I still sing occasionally and do some community theatre stuff. Mosty I direct choirs though and really like leading ensembles. The cute guy and I have been together for 25 years; the pups, not quite as long. Do you also have layers of things that you can't live without? You may be on to something with the Skagway thing. With no road for so long and the things available in somewhat limited supply, we tended to hold on to stuff and collect things more. Maybe it was to have things of interest to appreciate through the winter months. You are welcome to visit sometime but do call well in advance so that I can sweep the dust under the carpet and roll up the layer of dog hair that covers every surface.

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  15. I love this idea! I will post a similar message soon. Love the dogs and the visiting friend. Watchers can certainly be distracting! I don't like clutter, but sadly I have a lot of it--it's hard to avoid. Great post! (Love the stained glass, too.)

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    1. I'm glad that you like Hoover Boo's idea too! Believe it or not, I used to abhor clutter and worked very hard to make sure it didn't accumulate. Now I've simply given up. Thanks, I made most of the glass in the picture.

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  16. I loved meeting your space, your dogs and your partner. Maybe I'll try this if things slow down a bit around here. You'd think being retired I would have plenty of time. But I am one of those who dreads clutter, and being compulsive takes a lot of time. :-)

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    1. It's funny, my neighbor, also a teacher, is compulsive and her house and garden are always perfect & ready for company. I was once that way but found it easier to be messy and not have company over.

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  17. Thanks for sharing your blogging space and a glimpse on how it's like when you're typing and composing a blog :) And all your pups are adorable!!

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  18. Your piles seem very organized. I love the oriental carpet, very floral, and all the stained glass. What a fascinating place to blog.

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    1. It is a fun place to blog. I would like to organize the paper clutter a little but then I might not be able to find things.

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  19. I LoVE clutter. I can't live with it, but I love it. If I were at your house, I'd probably tolerate your dogs, (I'm a cat person) and go in for a closer look at every little thing you've got stashed in your computer area. Then I'd walk over to your bookshelf and strain my neck looking sideways to learn what it is that trips your trigger in the literary world. Then I'd go over and put that cute Tiffany lamp in my shopping bag (that I keep handy just in case) and hope you don't miss it until after I'm gone while shushing the dogs as they growl at me because they don't miss anything. Then I'd see if there was room in my bag for one of the stained glass panels but because there isn't and I'm sure you'd miss them, I'll glance outside and then because I'm drawn to plants, I'd find a door and let myself into the garden while checking my bag to make sure there is room for a few little garden treasures lying around that might not be missed. Best not to invite me over.

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    1. Oh Grace, you can come over any time. I probably wouldn't notice anything missing for quite some time and would attribute it's theft to someone else. While this is the paper clutter capital of the house with the possible exception of the kitchen counter where the mail and newspapers tend to accumulate, you'll find lots of other interesting things throughout the house. I love fun, funky or beautiful objects but most of the stuff has sentimental value as lots of people have left things to me. Walking through the 3D collage of my house makes me smile. Tom would prefer that some things got put away every now and then and periodically changed. It's an interesting idea. P.S. do call before you drop in so that I can pick up the dirty socks and contain the hounds of hell. We had cats for years and loved them. Even had some whose time with us overlapped the advent of the dogs. Now I get my kitty fix from the neighbor's cat who comes out and gardens with me and likes to cuddle. Mean old Tom always says that four pets are enough when I bring up getting a cat again. Maybe I should just bring home a sweet adult cat from the pound someday. Who could say no?

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  20. Great idea for a post. My view is not as interesting as yours, though. I would love being surrounded by books!
    Was reading some of the comments. I just joined a local chorale and am LOVING it! Haven't been in an organized chorale in many, many years and realized I have missed it so much. It also has gotten me playing piano again although I am very rusty and rusty at Latin as well.
    Brenda

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    1. Oh wow Brenda, glad to hear that you're enjoying singing in a local chorale. It's one of the joys of my life!

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  21. This made me feel better about my own mess.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.