Linderhof


Gardening, Cooking and Decorating on the Prairie of Kansas


Welcome to Linderhof, our 1920's home on the prairie, where there's usually something in the oven, flowers in the garden for tabletops and herbs in the garden for cooking. Where, when company comes, the teapot is always on and there are cookies and cakes to share in the larder.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Reprise -- A Lady's Desk

This was originally posted on January 22, 2009. As the kitchen is the heart of the home, the dining room is the soul, THE desk is the engine. It is where the "mechanical" of running a home is done.

Please join Chari at Happy to Design to see other favorites this Sunday.



Every "lady" needs a place where she can write thank you notes, peruse and pay bills, send greeting cards, and keep track of social engagements.

My place is a mahogany secretary in the corner of the living room with a window that looks out on what I call my secret garden. (The garden is a small strip along the side of the house -- filled with flowers three seasons of the year.)

The picture is a picture of the fireplace at Linderhof taken in 1930 and given to me by an old man that was the little boy in the picture. It's always been a treasure to me.

My collection of Asian calligraphy brushes also at this moment reside on the desk in a calligraphy brush pot. The wee carved figure is ivory, bought by Husband Jim on a long ago visit to Asia.

Surrounded by things I love, the desk is a special place to do special things.


The bookcase part of the secretary holds some very special and very old pieces of blue and white as well as some small old volumes.

Every day, after breakfast and the dishes, I sort the mail here and then attend to my correspondence -- sending whatever note needs to be sent, addressing whatever greeting card needs to go out, making the daily grocery list. Often with a cup of tea in hand to sip as I go about this daily ritual.

Every lady needs a desk. How else could she run a household?

12 comments:

Unknown said...

This is my first visit to your blog. Such a lovely place to visit too! :)

I enjoyed browsing through and looking at your stunning pictures. Your house is lovely.

It was nice to meet you.
Lynnette
Dancing Barefoot on Weathered Ground

Shirley said...

What a lovely post! I hadn't seen it before as I haven't been blogging all that long. The secretary reminds me of my parents. It's where my Dad always sat to "do the bills".

Pondside said...

My desk is sacrosanct. The pigeon holes are filled with greeting cards, a leather case holds notepaper, and my diary sits in the corner, when it's home from the office.
I made your roast chicken with lemons and garlic again last night - for the Danes - and the oohs and ahhs would have made you smile.

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

What a gorgeous piece. I have been hunting for a wonderful secretary, but havn't found one yet. No desk, just the kitchen counter. Hugs, Marty

Nancy Yoakum said...

Please forgive me Martha, but i tagged you! Come over and visit my blog!

Hugs, Nancy

Lori E said...

Now I need a special desk. You make the ritual sound so calm and serene. I almost won't mind paying my bills.

Southerncook said...

Lovely post Martha even if it is a "Reprise". I enjoyed reading it as always.

Since our kitchen remodel I have been without a desk. DH has a desk in his at home office but I never use it. I had given thought to getting me a beautiful desk/secretary and have intentions of checking out some nearby antique shops in my travels. The question is where do I put it????? To be resolved later but your desk is beautiful.

Carolyn

Schnitzel and the Trout said...

I have always dreamed of the perfect desk. I think it's about time, don't you, for me to own that perfect desk? This is a lovely post.

Melinda said...

Hi Martha--
I have my Mom's rolltop desk in
storage, someday we WILL get it put somewhere in our house.
Don't know where BUT somewhere.

Melinda

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

My daughters learned how to write notes (or scribble them) at their Grandmother's secretary desk. It's a lovely piece and yes, very lady-like.

KBeau said...

What a pretty place to work. I had not seen this post before, so thanks for sharing it again.

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Good Morning, my friend...

How are you doing this fine Monday morning? We arrived back home from our little mountain getaway about 7 last night...we had a fabulous time! Ohhh...I sure wished that I had had a few of those calligraphy pens with me on that camping trip...I used to try my hand at calligraphy...would have been a great way to spend some time while we were away! Hehe!

Your secretary is a beautiful piece...I really enjoyed looking at all of your gorgeous blue and white dishes! Ohhh...and I love old books with their beautiful covers and illustrations! What a delight...to have such a fabulous piece of furniture that you can sit at each day to configure your daily business...not to mention, being surrounded by some of your "favorite things"! Bet the view is simply gorgeous too...being about to look out and see all those beautiful flowers in your Secret Garden!!!

Loved this post! Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us for Sunday Favorites!!!

Warmest wishes,
Chari