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Musings: to meditate, think, contemplate, deliberate, ponder, reflect, ruminate, reverie, daydream, introspection, dream, preoccupation, brood, cogitate.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

View Outside My Kitchen Window - January


Resolution:  blog more often...............✔

As Hercule Poirot was fond of saying, "Mon, ami, the voices of the little gray cells have begun to sing to Poirot..."  My little gray cells think it's a good idea to post the view from my kitchen sink window each month and share the musings that come to me while washing dishes....

But I must tell you first that I probably should have accomplished my resolutions in order and learned all the features in Blogger first because I already lost this post once and am trying to write it as cleverly as I did the first time!  I do not understand why some authors rewrite their stories from scratch since my first go at it is usually my best because I haven't edited the life out of it!  

Anyway, I shall endeavor to get back on track and tell you what I wanted you to know....which is, when I first moved here more than 32 years ago the view was very different.  There was no roof over the front porch, the Arborvitae branches extended to the ground, and there was grass in the front yard.  I'd look out this window and not see an absolute soul, and I was feeling lonely.  We'd just moved from a town house that overlooked the parking area where I could keep an eye on all my neighbors' comings and goings.  Eventually, I began to appreciate the birds and squirrels that would visit our yard.  I realized it was nice not to see my neighbor's trash can sitting on the curb for days.  With all the wildlife we've seen coming and going over the years (ah-ha! another post idea!), I've grown to appreciate the solitude.

After 11 years we were able to put the roof on the porch and only recently screened it in for our cat who is not allowed to go outside (more about my cat in a future post).  In the summer we eat just about every meal out there.  

Several years ago I realized if we cut off the lower branches of the Arborvitae we could extend our view.  The moles convinced us two years ago to give up on the grass altogether.  These ideas probably all came to me as I washed dishes gazing out that window.  (In case you're wondering, what looks like a shingled roof on the ground is the roof to our pit well.) 

I thought I'd also give you the view from the other window in the kitchen that looks out over my Arbor garden.  This view will change the most every month as my gardens spring back to life.  As you can see it looks pretty dead and messy right now.....
I made a point of including the thermometer in the window.  It will be a nice record as the seasons change.  

12 comments:

  1. Love the view from your kitchen window. Your Beatrix Potter figurines are just adorable in your window sill. I know you are a fan of Susan Branch as that is how I found your link a while ago. Reminds me of her style. I too have a window I gaze through as I am working in the kitchen. For me it's a must have in a home. Thanks for sharing! ♥

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    1. Yes, Martha Ellen. Susan Branch has influenced me quite a bit! Have you been to my posts about Martha's Vineyard? I have several photos of her house and yard. :-)

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  2. Yes I've seen your posts about MV. Very nice photos and diary of your time there. I would love to visit there one day. Susan Branch is very inspirational to me and countless others. ♥

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    1. What part of the country do you live? I hope you do get to go to Martha's Vineyard. Stay in Vineyard Haven if you can.

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  3. We live in VA . Our daughter lives in NH and we always say we need to take a trip down to the Vineyard from there while we're visiting. Never seems to be enough time. We fly to my daughters and only visit in her immediate area. Would be a lovely side trip.

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    1. If you ever pass through Frederick, please stop in for tea!

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  4. Cathy, I like this idea ... inside looking out! It will be enjoyable to watch the progression of the seasons. Love your BP collection; I have Benjamin Bunny. Susan seems to have influenced a bunch of us! Best wishes in the new year.

    Sharon in Alabama

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    1. Hi Sharon. I loved Beatrix Potter ever since I discovered the Peter Rabbit books when my children were little, but I only started collecting the figurines when I saw Susan's. I found the first 3 in an antique store. They are made from polyresin and therefore much less expensive, and I like that they are small so that I can collect them all! I also like that they are sitting atop the book they are featured in. There are also a couple ornaments mixed in with them. Best wishes to you, too!

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  5. Martha is right, Cathy! On my list of Must-Haves in a home, the kitchen sink MUST be situated opposite a window. No sink on an island or facing into the family room for me. Almost makes dishwashing a pleasure when you have a view like yours. I was 10 when we moved to a new house where the kitchen sink was on an inside wall. This was the same time I began dishwashing as one of my chores - and I always loathed it. Then when I was in college my parents could finally remodel the kitchen and the first thing they told their contractor was that the sink had to be moved to a window spot. Made ALL the difference in the world since the wndow chosen looked out on the driveway and the little creek in our front yard - a beautiful view! And needless to change, my attitude received a 180-degree adjustment!

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    1. I feel the same about bathrooms! Our townhouse bathrooms did not have a window. It was a prerequisite when we bought this house. If people are the heart of a home, then windows are it's soul!

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  6. I'm not sure how I got to your blog but I have enjoyed visiting (I love this post of your window view.) I was drawn to the picture of the Pennsylvania house in a post from last year. My grandfather built many homes and churches in that area until he died in 1956. What a wonderful experience you had to stay in such a house with your kids. A great idea. We had a family reunion a few years ago and the current owners of my grandparents' home (that my grandfather built) let us come back for an afternoon and revisit our childhood memories! I love those old stone houses.

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    1. So nice to "meet" you Podso. I took a brief look at your Blogs and am eager to peruse more slowly. Old houses "speak" to me so I love visiting them. Perhaps I've never lived in one full-time because I wouldn't be able to bear the constant talking! :-)

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