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How I Procrastinated This Week 08.07.18

August 7, 2018 mithra ballesteros

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about living on a farm someday. I dream of a bucolic country life gardening, raising chickens, and having acres to roam. What do you dream of? If you need a little extra daydreaming, check out my favorite links from around the web this week...

Do you find yourself struggling to read? Me too. Apropos of that, here's this.
A Google doodle led me to this story of a forgotten female war photographer.
Apparently Facebook is going to meet with the staff at the Flemish tourism board who produced this video mocking the way Facebook has been censoring the work of Peter Paul Rubens.
This artist's articulated beasts would be wonderful in a child's room, on a Christmas tree, or hanging on a wall. I also love the DIY kits to make your own!
Not your typical western ranch: take a tour of the gracious Colorado home of Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy.
Everyone needs a nook for a book (or two).
My most favorite obituary writer (yes, I rank them) is retiring.
Antiques of the Week: These are the perfect jiggers for those who like to specify one finger or two. These Art Deco mermaid bookends can contain your collection of Patrick O'Brien perhaps. A little naughty ashtray / soap dish / ring dish for the bride (or groom) with a sense of humor.

Photo by Arno Smit via Unsplash

Mithra B096 copy.jpg

Welcome! I'm Mithra (pronounced Mee-thra). I'm an interior stylist and a writer. I'm also a vintage and antiques lover. I have an online shop, Finder Not Keeper, where I sell my best finds. (That's a white lie. I keep the best finds.) Read more about me and the blog here.

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Pieces of petrified wood, which are in essence fossils. Have you ever wondered about the odds of becoming a fossil? That’s how I’m procrastinating tonight.
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Every fossil is a small miracle, given that less than one-tenth of 1% of all animal species have become fossils. And then there’s the enormous odds against those fossils being found.

Pieces of petrified wood, which are in essence fossils. Have you ever wondered about the odds of becoming a fossil? That’s how I’m procrastinating tonight. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Every fossil is a small miracle, given that less than one-tenth of 1% of all animal species have become fossils. And then there’s the enormous odds against those fossils being found.

Reconnecting for the first time in over thirty years?!? Too long! We were in the same cabin at @camp_miniwanca and our friendship continued off the sand dunes. She lived in Highland Park and I in Waukegan and we drove up and down Highway 41 on Friday nights when she wasn’t studying. (Too rare as she was a very very good student and is now a very successful shatterer of glass ceilings). So great to get together though neither of us could recall the exact guy I fixed her up with for prom. A helluva hottie is all we remember. He might’ve played basketball. Might’ve joined the military post high school. Might’ve been named Randy. Any WEHS peeps remember who Kara went to prom with in 1980?

Reconnecting for the first time in over thirty years?!? Too long! We were in the same cabin at @camp_miniwanca and our friendship continued off the sand dunes. She lived in Highland Park and I in Waukegan and we drove up and down Highway 41 on Friday nights when she wasn’t studying. (Too rare as she was a very very good student and is now a very successful shatterer of glass ceilings). So great to get together though neither of us could recall the exact guy I fixed her up with for prom. A helluva hottie is all we remember. He might’ve played basketball. Might’ve joined the military post high school. Might’ve been named Randy. Any WEHS peeps remember who Kara went to prom with in 1980?

This comment by writer Dave Eggers comes to mind today here at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Georgetown, Washington DC. Founded in 1808, it is filled with the remains of mostly African-Americans. As you can see it is completely neglected and has been since 1950. Weird since it shares a fence with Oak Hill Cemetery, the gorgeous leafy resting place of many well-to-do Washingtonians.

This comment by writer Dave Eggers comes to mind today here at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Georgetown, Washington DC. Founded in 1808, it is filled with the remains of mostly African-Americans. As you can see it is completely neglected and has been since 1950. Weird since it shares a fence with Oak Hill Cemetery, the gorgeous leafy resting place of many well-to-do Washingtonians.

A wall of Native American artifacts in the entrance hall of Monticello. These are recreations of the original objects sent by Lewis and Clark from their expedition back to Jefferson. Somehow somewhere along the line, the collection disappeared. No one knows what happened, so contemporary Native American artists used primary sources to create new pieces.

A wall of Native American artifacts in the entrance hall of Monticello. These are recreations of the original objects sent by Lewis and Clark from their expedition back to Jefferson. Somehow somewhere along the line, the collection disappeared. No one knows what happened, so contemporary Native American artists used primary sources to create new pieces.

Researching the elements of a Japanese garden I think this is a cast iron replica of a pyatthat, a kind of Burmese pagoda. The more roofs, the more royal the inhabitant.

Researching the elements of a Japanese garden I think this is a cast iron replica of a pyatthat, a kind of Burmese pagoda. The more roofs, the more royal the inhabitant.

This little structure is one of several neat outbuilding at the farm. It’s currently the check-out cabin. @fourthworld_photographjy hopes that eventually it’ll be his hangout, aka “Smokey’s Hideaway.” It’s got just enough room for a hammock and a rack for fishing poles.

This little structure is one of several neat outbuilding at the farm. It’s currently the check-out cabin. @fourthworld_photographjy hopes that eventually it’ll be his hangout, aka “Smokey’s Hideaway.” It’s got just enough room for a hammock and a rack for fishing poles.

Interior color workshop coming soon! I’m working on a survey to help you figure out how to incorporate color in your home. I’m the queen of neutrals but the muddy colors making a comeback really have me pushing into new territory. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Register at @pastbasketmilwaukee for the free workshop- Thursday May 23rd, 7 pm.

Interior color workshop coming soon! I’m working on a survey to help you figure out how to incorporate color in your home. I’m the queen of neutrals but the muddy colors making a comeback really have me pushing into new territory. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Register at @pastbasketmilwaukee for the free workshop- Thursday May 23rd, 7 pm.

My mom, age 23, a newlywed, and pregnant with me, surrounded by my dad’s family. It was a hot day, and just like every other day in the beginning, she didn’t understand a word being said. (She did learn Farsi eventually and speaks it very well.)
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She remembers how hot it was in Hamadan, Iran, where air conditioning was unheard of. A picnic in the garden with shade and fresh fruit was very pleasurable.

My mom, age 23, a newlywed, and pregnant with me, surrounded by my dad’s family. It was a hot day, and just like every other day in the beginning, she didn’t understand a word being said. (She did learn Farsi eventually and speaks it very well.) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ She remembers how hot it was in Hamadan, Iran, where air conditioning was unheard of. A picnic in the garden with shade and fresh fruit was very pleasurable.

Making great effort in this next stage of motherhood to tone down the wringing of hands, the finger-wagging, the “well, in my day,” the knee jerk safety freak outs.
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I made a new friend recently. She said she apologized to her kid for years of overparenting. “I stole her power,” said this woman. She told me that now when she sends an email to her kid, she puts this warning in the re: line. That way she gets the advice off her chest and her kids may or may not choose to receive it.

Making great effort in this next stage of motherhood to tone down the wringing of hands, the finger-wagging, the “well, in my day,” the knee jerk safety freak outs. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I made a new friend recently. She said she apologized to her kid for years of overparenting. “I stole her power,” said this woman. She told me that now when she sends an email to her kid, she puts this warning in the re: line. That way she gets the advice off her chest and her kids may or may not choose to receive it.

Garden spade as door knocker at the farmhouse. Lots of outlining of future plans for the place on the blog today. Some are larks. Some are for real. Link in bio.

Garden spade as door knocker at the farmhouse. Lots of outlining of future plans for the place on the blog today. Some are larks. Some are for real. Link in bio.

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