Gosh, I just looked back and saw that I haven’t done an ‘at this moment’ for six years! The three animals I mentioned in the last one are all dead now. If you go to the sidebar under ‘letter topics’ you can see the (very few) other postings. I’ll try to do it more often. I like stopping once in a while and really noticing. It all began as an exercise Tom had his students do. (I did change the 'feel' category to emotional feeling rather than snow on my face or wind in my hair.) Today, just before 5 pm, I sat in the big study chair between the south windows
reading.
What I saw: straight ahead
to the left
to the right
What I heard: the breeze outside the three open windows
What I smelled: bread baking in the oven
What I tasted: nothing, though thinking about the quinoa and sautéed vegetables I’m going to cook later.
What I felt: very happy in the study, which is also now a playroom and a yoga room. There are gates on both doors so Lucy cannot get in, and the room stays quite clean. It is a room without any electronic devices, and there isn’t even a clock. Just toys and books and photographs and my desk where I still check my checking account on paper, and pay bills with a check, and write cards. For me, a perfect space. I saw that my
very first 'at this moment' was also in this room; and how it has changed since 2007. The computer was in there along with my beloved black reproduction phone and the answering machine. Now I don't have a land line, and the answering machine is in the same category of a VHS machine. Also, the room is all freshly painted with those new picture shelves I noted
here. The only thing that remains the same is
the quilt my Aunt Susie made in 1927.
This was great! The whole picture of what you were looking at and thinking about. Love it!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It is such a wonderful room. The sun and breeze comes in those south and west windows, and I have a cute little floor fan if the weather is hot.
DeleteOh-so-lovely, Nan, and a reminder for me to live in the moment more often, and relish it.
ReplyDeleteEasy to do when you are with your grandchildren, isn't it?!!
DeleteI could relax there very easily. Thank you for sharing your quiet moment!
ReplyDeleteIt is a relaxing, comfortable and comforting room.
DeleteOh wow, Nan! I can't even describe how much I love your blue shelving, both sets. My, my, my. Now I think I'll walk around my house and see if I can do something like that. Gotta run. :) Blessings, Debra
ReplyDeleteThe paint is Benjamin Moore - Ocean Air on the shelves and Gossamer Blue on the window casements. Very soothing.
DeleteYes, your room certainly has changed but the feeling of peace and contentment seems to have remained. And what a beautiful room, I love the idea of a device-free space. Inspector Morse was always a favorite of mind, but I've never read the very last book in the series. I loved the PBS series, too.
ReplyDeleteI will be writing about that book soon-ish. I'm watching all the shows on Netflix streaming now.
DeleteA lovely snapshot of a quiet afternoon in New Hampshire in August. What a contrast to the first post! I will steal your idea and do a moment in time myself one of these days.
ReplyDeleteIt is fun to just stop and notice all these things. I look forward to yours.
DeleteI love this, although I'd be a bit afraid of posting pics of some of my space! I also love that you have a space free of electronic devices and I'm a bit jealous of those bookshelves.
ReplyDeleteThey were built when we first bought the house, and I so love them. And I love the picture shelves that Tom made. I look at them all the time, along with the teacups. It really is my perfect space.
DeleteWhat a lovely room Nan and what a super idea. Now I can picture you sitting in your chair and reading your book. Delightful.
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you!!
DeleteThis was lovely! I feel as if I were there with you, experiencing it all. We need rooms like that, free of technology. I don't allow any television or computers in my bedroom, haven't in several decades, and it does help.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the bread was delicious!
It's all balance, isn't it? I can tell when I need time away from any screens. I go away and come back refreshed.
DeleteI love your rooms, your view and all the books,
ReplyDeletemine similar
and yesterday wrote something similar :)
Recently downscaled so many of my books
after seeing your ful bookcases,
wish I had kept them :)
Take care
and continue to enjoy life and those special grandchildren.
Special thoughts to you
from one in the country with a view of woods and fields...
I love your spaces - your house is so perfect. I dream of building my own but I don't think it will ever happen. I do seem to need to own books. As much as I love libraries, they often don't have the books I want to read.
Delete6 years?! Time flies, doesn't it?!
ReplyDeleteI love these posts of yours and look forward to more in the coming years. Maybe this is the perfect format for my return to blogging. Jumping back in with a book review seems too abrupt. An "At This Moment" and maybe a recap of our summer activities would be easy enough, don't you think? Now to carve some time out of my weekend...
As always, I love peeking inside your beautiful home. The photographs, books, plants and quilts are so lovely.
I have missed spending time on my blog, and reading others' postings. There is a calm, an order, a slowness I love about blogging, Facebook is so fast, so cluttery, so ephemeral. If you miss it today, it is gone or buried tomorrow. It has it's place but the blogging world suits my nature better.
DeleteLove this exercise, love your room ... And all the books especially. Interesting what you have changed in those years . I like very much that you've made this room a no electronics zone!
ReplyDeleteI'm always working things out in my house - where things are best placed, etc. I'm such a homebody.
Delete