Shopping · YouTube

The Joy of the Hunt

For Treasures

I don’t recall when I tripped over Antiques Road Trip but it has been a few years. I have to say that I have very limited experience in either auctions or antiques let alone those in the U.K., so watching has been educational on many levels.

All that being said, I do have favorite antiquers (or as I would refer to them as shoppers) even though the only real common attribute among them is a love of history.

I’ve enjoyed watching the older episodes on YouTube, but you could also find them on a local channel. Check your listings, you might be surprised.

This article explains the format better than I could: Antiques Road Trip

This latest episode with Mr. Braxton and Mr. Hanson capped off a week of amazing finds and sales.

The thrill of the hunt combined with humor makes for some interesting viewing. In this particular episode Charles found at least one item I wouldn’t mind owning myself.

Check it out for yourself!

Around the House

A Little Spring Cleaning – Part 2

Want to spruce up your space a bit? Wash your pillows. Not just the covers, the pillows. NOTE: Be sure your pillows are washable before you attempt this!

Sometimes the best refresh goes deeper than simply changing up the linens or curtains. I would venture to say that most of us really don’t realize just how much wear and tear, not to mention dirt and grime, our surfaces accumulate. That being said, dirt and grime don’t stay on the outside of the pillow, hence the need to wash it.

I run my washable pillows through a cold wash and dry them on the permanent press setting. They are clean and, almost as if by magic, as fluffy as when I first purchased them. I also use a scented fabric softener to add to the refresh for the room.

Don’t overlook your bed pillows! While it might be ‘easier’ to purchase new ones, if your current set is washable, why not just run them through a cycle? You save money and refresh not only your pillows but your bedroom, too.

I don’t recommend that you do this process more than 3 times a year unless there is some extraneous reason.

Aside from pillows, don’t overlook the curtains and drapes in your home. While some might need professional cleaning, the majority could easily go through your home laundry and once dry could be rehung without needing to encounter an iron. Don’t forget to check for any needed repairs. Again, check to be sure those fabrics are washable before you attempt cleaning them.

Checklist
  • Throw Pillows
  • Bed Pillows
  • Throw Rugs
  • Furniture Covers
  • Curtains
  • Drapes
  • Throw Blankets
  • Blankets and Quilts
Around the House · YouTube

A Little Spring Cleaning

There is something refreshing about doing a bit of cleaning or clean out from time to time. In my case, I recently went through my YouTube subscriptions and cleared out those I no longer watch or who haven’t posted in a bit. Frankly, I was astounded.

There is an ebb and flow to the way we connect with certain things. Sometimes it takes only a few visits while other times it can take years to outgrow something.

I’ve often found myself amazed at the quality (or lack) of the videos I encounter. There are some seriously talented folks producing some great content out there!

I appreciate the level of work involved in producing a video – there is a lot that goes into those few minutes we see on our screens. I also appreciate when I find a content provider that would never, ever be seen on ‘regular’ media for a variety of reasons.

In any event, if you haven’t taken a few minutes to go through your subscriptions and clear out the ones you no longer watch, now might be a good time. Also, consider sharing the ones you do watch with friends and encouraging them to subscribe. You might be surprised at the impact.

Bingeworthy · Books · Classic TV · TV

From The Reading Table: The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive Inside Story

The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series by Jessica Radloff

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I’m savoring this gem!

First, I love the extras you could get on DVDs that told behind the scenes stories about the main feature.

Second, I’ve had the pleasure of spending time on some TV and motion picture stages and the experiences were not only fun, but educational.

Third, I came to The Big Bang Theory late, but when I discovered it, I dove in with both feet.

Put all this together and you will understand why reading this book is such a pleasure. If you like learning about how TV shows are made, curious about actor’s method and process, and want to know some of the behind the scenes events that added and aided the creation of a great series, this is your book.

There is a lot of detail here. The tidbits you will discover could make you sit back and shake your head.

Even if you aren’t one of us extras-on-the-DVD people, you might find this an interesting read.



View all my reviews

Audiobooks · Books

From The Reading Table: A Tempest At Sea

A Tempest at Sea by Sherry Thomas

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Having read (listened to) the entire Lady Sherlock series, I’m used to (i.e. spoiled by) the storytelling. Add Kate Reading’s fabulous talents as a reader of the audiobooks and the experience is a luscious treat.

This latest addition to the series is unusual in that it brings together many characters from the other books and puts them on a ship much like the one Agatha Christie created in Death On The Nile. They are stuck together with at least one murderer among them.

Every part of this book is interesting on its own. From the resolution/evolution of character arcs to the mystery itself, each is well developed and engaging. Toss in the story arcs with various characters and the book really shines.

I like the way each character’s flaws and limitations are brought forward. There are places where the prose makes them visceral, to say the least. I’d mention a couple of characters here, but readers will have their own particular, um, favorites.

I also like that the book has included the ship plans for the reader, which makes figuring out locations easy. The audiobook has an attached pdf to download.

Yes, you can read it out of order and enjoy the story, but if you have read the entire series you will get more from this encounter with particular characters.

I’m curious to discover how many more books will be in the series. At this point, I can contemplate at least 2, maybe 3, more. What I can’t, and frankly don’t want to, contemplate is how those stories will develop. I’m more than happy to wait and see.



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Card Making · Crafting · Craftroom · Musings · Quilting · Scrapbooking · YouTube

Craft Room Infusion

Or, I really need to find inspiration

This made my day!

Great ideas, and a way to not only shop our stash, but discover what is in our stash!

Speaking of our stash, if you don’t have a way of getting rid of items you no longer want or need, the link in the video should be helpful. I don’t have anyone near me who takes on craft items for reuse and I will be investigating that link for myself.

Musings

Can I Share A Secret?

Recently I came across a couple of comments from content creators that got me to thinking. On the surface, each came from the place where most folks spend their time, but when you pull back the curtain…

Number 1: The Idea of ‘Modern’

As in what is considered modern today. This creator was giving ideas on how to update your home to avoid it looking dated. The thought that occurred to me was that ‘modern’ is relative. What I mean is that when you do a bit of a history trawl, as in look back over the years, you will find the idea of ‘modern’ applies to each and every year going back millennia.

Yep, those dated cabinets, carpets, drapery, furniture styles, clothing, you name it, was considered modern in the day they were produced. Every. Single. One. This was brought into focus and emphasized recently when I saw a walk through of a home built in the early 1900s and then saw a video walk through of homes in Pompeii and Rome. The same ostentatious design elements from two very different time periods that included color, art, size, and number of rooms.

Yep, think about it. Few folks actually go out of their way to create homes that would be considered out of date (as in appliances that would not be usable today) but they choose to create homes using design aesthetics of a different era. The rest look at the newest appliances, fabric, cabinet design, etc. to create homes that by most standards would be considered modern. Fast forward 10 to 20 years and those homes will be out of date.

Number 2: The Idea of ‘Perfect’

It has been said that perfection is in the eye of the beholder, but I think that many times we let the idea of perfection get in the way of many things.

Recently one of my favorite creators took us through his kitchen. This is a rental flat with the usual rental expectations when it comes to cabinetry, appliances, and pretty much everything else that comes with the flat. In other words, it isn’t ‘high end’. He said that he had put off taking us on the tour because of chipped countertops, well worn floors, etc.

Here’s the thing; no home that is lived in is always perfect. There will always be opportunities with well used spaces in addition to the realities of living in a space. Toss in kids and or pets and perfection tends to fly out the window no matter how hard we work to corral and control the realities of life.

Personally, I subscribe to the theory that my home should reflect me, not the latest trend on the Internet or the opinion of people who don’t live in it, pay for it, or take care of it. That means that the floors might need a sweep now and then, the cabinets could use a good cleaning and coat of paint, and, because I live with a fur baby, there will be fur not on the animal. I can’t really complain about her fur as mine tends to compete taking up space not on my head.

Number 3: The Idea of ‘New’

I think we tend to forget that nothing is really ‘new’ and everything has been done before, even if it might have been done differently. Sort of. It comes down to the idea of discovery. For many folks these ideas are new to them, so they are inclined to interpret them as new to everyone else.

Food for thought, eh?

Books · Media · Musings · TV

Revisiting the Peanuts Gallery

I really can not recall a time when the comic strip ‘Peanuts’ wasn’t around somewhere. I even recall watching the very first Peanuts special (‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’) way back in 1965. Actually, I recall watching every ‘Peanuts’ special from the very first showing. Yeah, I’ve been around that long. 🙂

The thing is, Charlie Brown and friends have been companions in many ways over the years and in some odd way have transcended childhood to adulthood without losing any of their wisdom and magic.

I’ve often been amused when people comment about cartoons or comic strips as only for children and not deserving attention from adults, let alone appreciation for the art form. And they are art forms.

Peanuts may look like just a bunch of kids meandering through their childhood but when you sit down and pay attention you realize that the conversations run deeper than expected, touch on topics you never considered, and often strike a nerve.

Do I have a favorite character? Well, I named my dog Snoopy and I find myself drawn to both Linus and Charlie Brown, so I guess you could say I do. But I appreciate Marcie for her unique outlook. Pigpen is one of those people who live life by their own rules while existing within society’s boundaries. Rerun highlighted the pleasures and perils of being a little kid…especially on his mom’s bike. The kid learned courage early!

I’m glad to say that I have the original specials not only on VHS but also on DVD. I strongly recommend them as additions to any media library. You never know when you might need a visit by the Great Pumpkin in the middle of Summer.

Don’t overlook the movies! Visually stunning, the storylines are interesting and enjoyable. A great way to spend an afternoon or evening with popcorn.

Peanuts is a treasure for so many reasons. Like fine wine, it just gets better with age.

Bingeworthy · Classic TV · Cord Cutting · TV

Discovering Classics

One of the unexpected surprises of cord-cutting and streaming is the ability to dig out classic TV or movies and discover just how good (or not) they are. PlutoTV has been updating its service and some of the updates have been quite surprising. And enjoyable.

While I’m astounded that it took so long to get a 24/7 I Love Lucy channel – considering how many other similar channels are available – I found myself with a bit of a grin and a touch of anticipation when I heard about this new addition to the service. If you are a fan, you understand, if not it won’t matter.

This evening, over on the Classic TV channel (still part of Pluto TV) I was surprised to find a stack of episodes from The Avengers and I took the time to indulge in a couple. I’ve heard of the show my entire life but never took the time, or had the opportunity, to actually watch. I’m glad to say I understand the furor over the show (my episodes were pre-Diana Rigg) and enjoyed them very much.

I’ve spent time recently looking over the several free platforms that are on my Roku Channel Guide – even the Roku Channel itself. There is a lot of material out there and some of it is worth getting out the popcorn, etc. and diving in.

You don’t need a Roku, if you have a Smart TV, you’ll probably already have apps on it, or you can use your Amazon Fire TV Stick. My point is that there is a huge variety of material if you are willing to do a bit of digging. 😉

What’s next? I have no idea. That is the fun of the hunt. Enjoy!