Claire, I read through this post briefly yesterday and stopped. There were so many details that paralleled - and expressed beautifully - my own experience that I wanted to take a slower read.
I, too, have been drawn to intimate, often multi-functional, space and the richness of activity that seeps deeper and deeper into it. I surround myself only with things I love - things that connote relationship; touchstones of gifts from dear friends or family members; places I've been.
My favorite Gaston Bachelard quote is "What is the source of our first suffering? It lies in the fact that we hesitated to speak." In fact, it was the generative idea behind a blog called Silent Things Within Us (to which I haven't posted since last Oct as I've been finding my way to a lifelong love of food and travel on Substack.)
I feel so similarly about materialism/the things that I surround myself by! And what a great quote. I’ll have to check out your blog—thanks for sharing!
I love this, Clare! Flashing across my brain are all the kitchens i have known and "lived in". Its roots began from both parents being from farm families. The kitchen was where "the business" was run, from feeding the "hired hands" to keeping track of the books and making cookies (and more cookies). Big old farm kitchens -- Aunt Gert's had 3 stoves, 1 was wood-burning. Moving from there, so many homes....kitchens are always where it was at. Thank you for your images and memories
I really loved the way you articulated the magic of a multi-purpose writing spot!! One of my absolute favorite places to write is in bed, with a view out the window on one side and a view of our bookshelf on the other :)
I love this so, so much. I have never been one to go hide in my room to study or write, I’m always out in the middle of the house around family or friends. You articulated this feeling so so well
I love this-it makes me think of Grandmas table and the variety of activities that happened there.
Claire, I read through this post briefly yesterday and stopped. There were so many details that paralleled - and expressed beautifully - my own experience that I wanted to take a slower read.
I, too, have been drawn to intimate, often multi-functional, space and the richness of activity that seeps deeper and deeper into it. I surround myself only with things I love - things that connote relationship; touchstones of gifts from dear friends or family members; places I've been.
My favorite Gaston Bachelard quote is "What is the source of our first suffering? It lies in the fact that we hesitated to speak." In fact, it was the generative idea behind a blog called Silent Things Within Us (to which I haven't posted since last Oct as I've been finding my way to a lifelong love of food and travel on Substack.)
He was surely the Michelangelo of his day.
I feel so similarly about materialism/the things that I surround myself by! And what a great quote. I’ll have to check out your blog—thanks for sharing!
It may motivate me to begin posting again. It's a part of my voice I miss using.
I love this, Clare! Flashing across my brain are all the kitchens i have known and "lived in". Its roots began from both parents being from farm families. The kitchen was where "the business" was run, from feeding the "hired hands" to keeping track of the books and making cookies (and more cookies). Big old farm kitchens -- Aunt Gert's had 3 stoves, 1 was wood-burning. Moving from there, so many homes....kitchens are always where it was at. Thank you for your images and memories
I really loved the way you articulated the magic of a multi-purpose writing spot!! One of my absolute favorite places to write is in bed, with a view out the window on one side and a view of our bookshelf on the other :)
I love this so, so much. I have never been one to go hide in my room to study or write, I’m always out in the middle of the house around family or friends. You articulated this feeling so so well