Now on sale . . . Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life by Suzanne Beecher, and when you purchase it, request a free autographed bookplate, by visiting:
http://tinyurl.com/Muffins-MayhemPO
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Dear Reader,When someone asks, "Suzanne, what did you do on your vacation? Did you go anywhere?" Invariably there's a slight look of pity on their face when I tell them I stayed at home for two weeks. So they quickly spice it up with, "Oh, one of those stay-cations?" And that seems to make it all okay.
But staying home was a deliberate decision. I wanted to see where my heart would lead me if there weren't any plans for each day. The only "have-to" I put on myself was to write down a memory from each day and I'm so glad I did. Because looking back through my daily notations is more memorable than a gallery of vacation photos. Life gets so busy it's easy to overlook or forget the little things, but I find my joy in the little things of life.
From my notebook:
Sunday, August 29th
A chicken lamp, topped with a funky-fringed shade; my husband and I were drawn to the "For Sale" description and photo on craigslist so we decided to go in-person to take a look and decide.
The woman lived alone. It was a small apartment, but seemed to have everything you'd wish for in a compact space. Well maintained, plenty of windows, (even pets were allowed, the chicken lamp lady had a "real" dog and cat) a private patio/garden area out back, a quick walk to downtown, the market and marina. "Why are you selling the chicken lamp Lynda?"
"I've been collecting chickens for a long time and the lamp was a pamper-me-purchase (originally a $200.00 chicken) but I've decided to get rid of most of my chickens and make room for something new in my life."
"Here chick, chick, chick," indeed Lynda had been collecting chickens: a chicken doormat, plates, chicken and rooster knickknacks and doo-dads were scattered throughout her apartment. And the "For Sale" chicken lamp proudly displayed on a table in the corner seemed to be keeping watch over them all.
My husband and I like cute, eclectic looking things, but did we need a chicken lamp and where would we even put it? Funny, how quickly weighty questions such as, 'Do we need and where would we put another lamp?' become unimportant when you fall in love with a chicken.
"You better be sure to let your friends know you're not collecting chickens any more," I suggested to Lynda before we left, and I told her not to worry, "We'll give your chicken a good home."
Surrounded by windows in my sunroom, our new funky chicken sits on my writing table, and something tells me she does indeed feel right at home.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.MuffinsandMayhem.com
* This month's Penguin Classics book is Tevye the Dairyman and Motl the Cantor's Son by Sholem Aleichem. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/September10Classics
Can you please post a picture of this chicken..I think we would all love to see it! Thanks
Posted by: Jessie | September 15, 2010 at 03:21 PM